Revolution of Love.com
"Behold I Make All Things New" (Rev. 21:5)
by Brian
The first time I heard the above passage was in Mel Gibson's movie - The Passion of the Christ.
It is the scene in which Mary runs down the alley and meets Jesus who is suffering enormously under the weight of the cross. Jesus is bloody, battered, and on his way to be executed. Looking into Mary's eyes, Jesus says, "Mother, behold I make all things new."
This scene beautifully captures the paradox of the Gospel message. I could never imagine someone who had been beaten, scourged, crowned with thorns and on his way to be executed in a most horrible and cruel manner, to make anything "new." Yet this is precisely what Jesus did.
The significance of this scene and the words spoken by Jesus, taken from the book of Revelation, express the glorious way in which God works. Just as the Father took the sufferings and death of His Son in order to make all things new, so Jesus will do the same with our sufferings.
How is this possible? I really don't know. It is a mystery. What I do know is that God's ways are not our ways. If we willingly offer to God our pain and sufferings, He will use it to restore His love and beauty in a world consumed by selfishness and darkness.
With a paradox such as this, it is obvious that Our Lord does not work according to human wisdom. This is what always seems to throw Satan for a loop. He constantly whispers to the heart of our culture that suffering and trials are pointless; that they don't change a thing in the temporal order. The devil also reasons that if God is so good, as many claim, than why do people have to suffer, even for a moment?
Even though Satan was one of the brightest of the angels, he is completely blind to the workings of God. Unfortunately, many Christians are as well. Some Christians embrace the health and wealth Gospel. The message of this Gospel is simply this - if you believe Jesus is Lord and follow Him then you will blessed with riches and good health.
This is the furthest thing from the truth. The lives of the saints testify that the health and wealth Gospel is a lie. No saint ever had an easy life. In fact, I think anyone would be hard pressed to find a saint, blessed or servant of God who did not experience trials and sufferings in their lives.
Through His crucifixion, death and resurrection Jesus makes all things new. He will use every trial, hardship and suffering that we are willing to offer Him, to transform this world. Though it seems hard to believe that suffering and pain can bring about any good within our own lives, let alone within the world, it magnificently reflects the splendor of Christ who takes the rags and filth of our sufferings and turns them into pure gold.
God bless.