“Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Isaiah 42:9
Dear Ones:
Someone has said that the Christian life is a “…series of multiplied new beginnings.” How can this be, and how does one experience the reality of this?
In Psalm 23, we read where the Shepherd of the sheep “RESTORES our soul.” (v.3) In the writings of Joel, we read where the Lord declares: “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord will do great things…And I will RESTORE the years that the locust hath eaten.” (2:21, 25) On the one hand, the Lord declares to us, that He will actually meet the deep needs of the soul and heart. In the book of Isaiah, we read that He intervenes “…to appoint unto them (…those who are brokenhearted, and captive) that mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” (61:3) Why does He say and promise this? It is because He knows our frame, that we are dust. He also knows that we are sheep, and as such, are totally “lost” without a Shepherd. Our God is a merciful and gracious God, seeking to ever respond to the heart that truly seeks Him. With respect to restoring “the years that the locusts have eaten,” God in Christ is the only one who can deal with the past, put us on a course that is sure, one that God will bless in the present moment, and going forward. The new beginning is that moment in time, whether a monumental event, or a series of small events, where God deals with everything in our past, meets the needs of the heart in the present, and gives us a living hope and certainty for His blessing in the future.
Jesus, on one occasion while in Jerusalem, went into the temple early in the morning. The Scribes and Pharisees brought a woman before him, who had been caught in adultery. Seeking to make Jesus act as judge in this situation, taking their side in the matter, they told Jesus that the Law required that the woman be stoned. When Jesus answered them appropriately, they left him, themselves convicted in their conscience. The woman was left alone with Jesus, who then turned to her and said: “Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?” He would then say: “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” (Jn. 8:10,11) What did Jesus do here? He gave to all concerned the possibility of a new beginning. The Scribes and Pharisees were confronted with their judgmental attitude, and convicted by the wisdom and truth of Christ’s words. They had the opportunity to believe that Jesus was the Christ, and know a new beginning. Would they? The woman who was caught in adultery was guilty. But here we see Jesus who came not to judge, but to seek and save that which was lost. How does He deal with the woman? Knowing her heart, and the very real condemnation that had been heaped upon her, He declares to her with quiet authority: “Neither do I condemn thee.” It is at this point that He not only removes the weight of condemnation from her, forgiving her sin, but He puts her on a new path, one where she will know a new beginning. “Go, and sin no more.”
Dear Father, give us to see and to grasp, that in Christ, You have dealt with ALL of our sin. You have provided not only for the removal of guilt, but also for the power, by the Spirit, to rise up and walk in a new way, knowing the reality of a new beginning every day. We thank Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad
Hallelujah and Amen!