Malcolm Dykes: The God of New

There's one verse of scripture that leaped out at me this morning that has me singing.

"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." Rev. 21:5

What has dawned on me in a most powerful way is our Lord is a God of new.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I like new.

I'm not a fan of the 2nd hand stores like Goodwill and Twice as Nice.

I don't search the want ads for used vehicles and even though new cost more, I just like new.

I was the little red caboose of 7 chaps and came along not really being expected with my closet sibling being a girl 6 years my senior, so mom and dad didn't have the luxury of dressing me in hand me downs.

So don't blame me for this love for new, it was a childhood experience that has stayed with me LOL.

Seriously, I like new.

Not that I'm better than you or think more highly of myself than I should, it just feels better, smells better and looks better.

I just like new.

Right now, there are some wonderful friends of mine suffering in their old run-down body.

My dear elder minister friend, the Rev. Gordon Alexander fondly called Bro. A has been in a difficult posture and painful demise now over some 3 years from a massive stroke.

Right now, he could sure use a new body.

A new lease on life.

And way over in Kosovo is a young lady in her early 30s who worked with me at the US Embassy in Kabul Afghanistan during that awful war who likewise has been laid low some 3 years by melanoma cancer that has robbed her of her eyesight and a normal life.

Right now, she too could use a new body.

And you know what, our Lord is a God of new.

A new lease on life.

Just ask Lazarus in the Bible, who laid dead 4 days in a tomb somewhere in Bethany Israel.

By now he stinketh, that was what the close of kin said but they got introduced to the God of new.

Look, we relegate such miracles to be locked up and bound in the Bible only but these two eyes saw the dead raised in Ajo AZ back in the mid 60s.

My dad was up behind the pulpit preaching and a good brother, Herb Odom, all of sudden stiffened and fell over in his seat.

He had just suffered a massive heart attack.

In the audience was his niece, a registered nurse and Bro. Herb was laid out in the aisle as an ambulance was called as she worked with CPR to revive him.

I can still see that good man turned blue and not breathing for near half an hour.

His niece tearfully pronounced him dead.

But the church stood around praying as dad anointed him with oil and before the EMTs could arrive he started breathing, his color returned and was setting up when they did.

He went on to live many years after that so yes, our Lord is the God of new.

A new lease on life.

Whoever is reading this, just know, your suffering is not obscure from the one who hung the stars and calls them out by name.

He said He's going to make a new heaven, a new earth and told me by the revelation given to Apostle Paul up in the 3rd heavens that I was going to get a new body that will be incorruptible.

But my sweet Jesus is not only a God of future promises He is the God of new right now.

Believe you with me if you are in need of something, a better job, a better living place, a better vehicle, a better anything, just take stock in Rev. 19:5 and ask believing for new.

Because He is a God of new.

God bless you and God bless America.