"Then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.'" (Revelation 21:5) Have you ever wondered what eternity will be like? The "Holy City, the new Jerusalem" is described as the place where God will "wipe every tear from their eyes." It will be the end of death, pain, sorrow, and crying. That gets me pumped up!
As I reflect on what God has done recently, I am reminded of the shock and sadness I felt when our Desna center was destroyed by fire. As I looked at pictures of the “almost finished” product, I am reminded of two very important truths. First, the old doesn’t compare to the new! This center dwarfs the former center. So much more ministry will be able to take place. That’s what heaven will be like. The reality will dwarf anything we are able to imagine. And what an improvement that will be. Our new center stands as a reminder that just as God has rebuilt the building…someday He will rebuild it all!
Secondly, I am reminded of how God has literally pulled me out of the fire in my own life. The ministry that He has given me today is built on the ashes of failures and mistakes in my past. In 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 Paul writes, “… anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. The foundation of my life is built on Christ now…He continues to make all things new. I still have a long way to go but He has brought me a long way through His grace.
For those of us that share in the work at Desna, we get to have a small piece of heaven early. God is giving us a taste of the other side! Desna II is also an altar for all of us to remember what God has built out of the ashes of our own lives. The old life is gone, a new life has begun!
1 comment:
John all I can say is I am so proud to have you as my Pastor and Fellowship as my church family. I have seen where Fellowship was long ago and through the transition at the lowest I left but God wasn't done in my church or in my life. I have been going through it but am encouraged by your transparency and honesty through all the good and bad in your life. Love that "human" side of you, it makes me realize that even a man of God is still just a man that goes through the same things I do! I am praying that as God continues to build us and our church that you will continue to be yielded and used of him. God bless, Lisa
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