A Truly New Thing
Ezekiel 43:18-19 (ESV) 18 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
One
of the challenges of arriving at the ripe old age of sixty-one is the catalog
of failure built up over the passing decades. Sadly, I developed quite the list
of personal failures during my life, some egregious and public, others private
and just as appalling. By human standards, I have done well; however, compared
to the stringent holiness of God I am an abject failure. Those inner hatreds
nursed, grudges held, ignoble passions stoked, all the fruit of a prideful failed human heart. This is why I cherish the Advent season so.
As
I make the Advent journey from Eden to Bethlehem, God speaks to me. He counsels
and comforts, “Remember not the former things…” Dwelling on my failed past does
not sponge away the stain of guilt or provide strength for future battles.
Advent focuses me on what God does. He is doing something new, something bold, something
unimagined. Here in Lubbock, we often endure long periods of drought, just as
we humans endure periodic failure. God says, “I will make a river flow in the
desert.” Advent surprises me with new possibilities that I cannot imagine.
Advent reminds me that God changes the dynamic of human existence. Failure need
not dominate my life. Advent focuses me on the radical possibilities generated
by God drawing near and making things new. I am blessed to live on this side of
Bethlehem. I enjoy the daily Advent of God in my life. It is present tense, not
future. What new things is God bringing forth in your life?
No comments:
Post a Comment