English
Português
Español
Français
Answer
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and He declared that everything was very good «And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.», (Genesis 1:31). However, mankind sinned, tarnishing God’s creation. The world was no longer “good.” From Genesis 3 through Revelation 20, the earth and all its inhabitants endure sin and death «Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: », (Romans 5:12). Nevertheless, something will change after the great white throne judgment. Once sin is eternally judged, God promises a new heaven and a new earth where suffering, pain, sin, and death will cease for all eternity. This future creation instills hope in believers and impacts our lives on earth as we eagerly anticipate the fulfillment of this promise: “Behold, I make all things new” «And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. », (Revelation 21:5, NKJV).
In Revelation 21, John describes seeing the new heaven and new earth. He witnesses a glorious Holy City, where God resides among His people. It is here that God vows to wipe away every tear from His people’s eyes. There will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. Ultimately, all creation will be liberated from the rule and consequences of sin. After beholding all this, John sees Jesus seated on the throne proclaiming, “Behold, I make all things new.” This new heaven and earth is the longing of believers, as well as all creation as seen in Romans 8:19.
When someone trusts in GodFor salvation, the Holy Spirit indwells a person, and they become a new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” «Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. », (2 Corinthians 5:17). The believer is no longer bound by sin; they become new creations, able to please God and live in His ways. Galatians 2:20 sums up our newness well: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” No longer do we live for ourselves, but we live for the One who is life (John 1:3-4). A transformation occurs in those who surrender to God, and of them it can also be said, “Behold I make all things new.”
Becoming a new creation affects the way we live. God’s Word reminds us to put off our former, sinful ways of life (Ephesians 4:22-24;Colossians 3:9). Instead of living in sin and for ourselves, we are called to “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” «and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: », (Colossians 3:10, ESV). Regeneration happens at the moment of salvation, but sanctification continues as we grow in faith and in His likeness «But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.», (2 Corinthians 3:18).
3:18). Some ways we grow include studying God’s Word, praying, fellowshipping with other believers, and enduring suffering. The statement “Behold, I make all things new” impacts our lifestyle when we rely on Christ for salvation.
The truth “Behold, I make all things new” has been anticipated since the beginning. After Adam and Eve sinned, God hinted at this promise while delivering judgment on sin and promising the Messiah (Genesis 3). The prophet Isaiah proclaims that salvation is solely in God and that He will indeed judge sin, prophesying about the new heaven and new earth: “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered” «For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. », (Isaiah 65:17). This sinful, depraved world is not God’s final destination for those who trust in Him, and like Paul, we yearn for the time when God will “bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ” «that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: », (Ephesians 1:10).
Decay, destruction, death, and evil are all part of our earthly existence. Even nature longs to be freed from the curse «For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. », (Romans 8:22). However, Jesus’ proclamation, “Behold, I make all things new,” gives hope that one day we will be liberated from the consequences and impact of sin, dwelling with Him in a new heaven and earth. This truth fills us with eager anticipation, driving us to seek a deeper knowledge of Him, to reflect His likeness more, and to proclaim His name. Our hope
A hopeful future is what transforms how we live while we anticipate Jesus’ renewal of all things.
