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A New Living Faith in an Old Rugged Cross




This past Sabbath I preached a message from Isaiah 43:14-21 entitled A New Living Faith in an Old Rugged Cross.  I explored the tension between welcoming the new and holding onto the old.  Through the prophet Isaiah God called His people to “Remember  not the former things, neither consider the things of old” (Isaiah 43:18). Three chapters latter the same God called the same people to “Remember the former things of old” (Isaiah 46:9). Which is it?  Are we to run to the new or cling to the old? Well, both.  We are to welcome the new things that God leads us into while holding onto the unchangeable truth of who God is.  At the same time we are to run from the new things that will lead us away from God and from the old things that have kept us from Him. The point is not that it is new or that it is old but that it is God. 



Here’s what I forgot to say….


God has promised to “make all things new”(Revelation 21:5). But He hasn’t promised to “make all new things”.  There is a difference.  To make all things new is to restore.  To make all new things is to start over. Too often, see seek novelty when God has promised renewal.  We want to move on from the old things when God wants to correct that old thing. Can you point to some examples in your own life?


When God does a "new" thing He is always leading us back to the “oldest” thing, Himself.


One day God will make a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1).  But this future home is a restoration an ancient original. Now, it truly is new. The old will have passed away (Revelation 21:1). But notice the echoes of Eden: God with His people (Gen 3:8/ Revelation 22:1), a river (Gen 2:10-14/ Revelation 21:3), the Tree of life (Genesis 2:9/ Revelation 22:2), curse pronounced (Genesis 3:14-19), curse removed (Revelation 2:3); reigning and dominion (Genesis 1:26/ Revelation 22:5). 


I am not arguing that God is not able to make new things but that God does not abandon His original purpose for creation to settle for something less. 


What’s new?  Not God, but my love God should be.  Not the gospel, but my experience with it should be. Not truth, but my commitment to it should be. When God does a “new thing”, He does not change but He is changing us.

The most important parts of new things are the things that aren’t new. 
The most important parts of change are the things that never change.


What God is calling you to is nothing “new” but it is something you have never experienced before!


God is calling you to a deeper experience of Himself. He is calling you to have a new living faith that is anchored in an old rugged cross.





Comments

  1. Doug PFebruary 9, 2020 at 3:35 PM

    I have studied the writings of the Church Fathers this past couple of years. This study reinforces the message of this sermon - God calls us always to the original Him, through all the covenants and through time, He is unchangeable. He has called His church to restoration, but He planted His church that would survive forever and would never need replacing.
    I've learned to view all things, such as recovery, as restoration projects. Sometimes, we look at change, especially character transformations, as putting on a new self. This is probably because the Bible says that when we put on Christ we are new creatures. But are we? We are loved by God in the womb....He leads us to Christ because of our need for renewal, not re-making. When we draw near to God we are restored and reconciled, not made new. Yes, He will make all things new, but He won't make all new things. This is not a trivial understanding, and once I grasp this I know that my soul is good material for restoration, like a beautiful old piece of furniture. Just a little clean up and a lot of grace, and the same ole' me can shine again, for all eternity. Thank you pastor for that message.

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