Read: Revelation 21:1-8
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (v. 5)
Sometimes, people attack the authenticity of the Bible because of its seeming contradictions. It takes wisdom to understand what God is telling us in its rich and varied literature. Here’s one of those seeming contradictions. In Ecclesiastes it says, “There is nothing new under the sun” (1:9); while in Romans we read that we “walk in newness of life” (6:4). So how is it possible that there is nothing new in the world while we live in newness of life every day? In fact, sometimes it seems like the opposite is true. There are many new things in the world and at the same time our daily lives can feel monotonous, where nothing new happens.
At first glance, we see the many new things on earth, like airplanes, space travel, and the Internet. However, when we look deeper, we see all the old patterns of sin: wars, greed, poverty. For the world, nothing has changed, but for us, as born-again believers, every day really is new. We are made new in Christ, once and forever. Every day is a new opportunity to live under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Even more than that, we look to the future when Jesus will return and everything will be new and the old will be no more. Today’s Bible reading shows us one picture of what that completely new life will look like—one where there will be no more “mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (v. 4).
As you pray, ask for wisdom to understand the mysteries of Scripture.
Arijeta Ajeti isan actress, director, playwright, public speaker, producer and teacher living in the country of Kosovo. She has performed in the National Theater of Kosovo and around the world. Arijeta is also an innovator of the ARK (Artists Reflect the Creator) initiative which brings Christian artists together to showcase their art and encourage each other in God.
Her devotionals were first published in Words of Hope’s Albanian partner publication, Fjalet E Spreses. Learn more about Words of Hope’s work in Albania and Kosovo.
