All Things New

All Things New

Since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.

Romans 5:10

“The Amish are keen menders, going to great lengths to fix what is broken, patch what is torn, and repair what is repairable,” writes Lorilee Craker, author of Money Secrets of the Amish. “I like the dictionary definition of mend: ‘to restore something to satisfactory condition,’ or ‘to improve something or make it more acceptable.’”

Mending is great for socks, fences, and farm equipment, but when it comes to our souls, there is no mending. Our efforts cannot cut out sin or repair the damage it has caused. Our good works do not stitch together the broken pieces. Since we are born sinners, we can’t ever do enough to repair our relationship with God. Jesus didn’t come to patch together our good parts with His great parts so we’d be sufficient. No, He takes all sin so there is not a stitch left within us to bring condemnation.

I like how 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 puts it: “We look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins” (The Message).

How have you looked at your life: as something you need to fix, to mend, to make do with? No matter how you try, you’ll never, ever be able to restore yourself to a satisfactory condition. Sinful human beings can never make themselves good enough for eternity.

How have you looked at Jesus: as Someone who helps you have a better life or as Someone who is your life? If you are still battling that question, settle it now. Hand over the frayed mess that you’ve been trying to put back together, and accept the fresh start, the new life, that only He can create within you.

Dear heavenly Father, I’m so grateful that instead of mending, You make new. I offer the tattered mess I have made and rejoice at the new life You have to give!