Out With the Old

Scripture:
Nehemiah 1:1-11
Revelation 21:1-7

People tend to have a fascination with restoring something old back to a like new status.  We refurbish bicycles, motorcycles, boats, cars, and even homes all the time.  I remember growing up someone brought in an old Triumph motorcycle to be restored.  The mechanics in our motorcycle shop worked diligently to make it look and run like new.  When they finished the bike looked as if it just came off the showroom floor.

The Jews experienced the fall of Jerusalem; the breaking down of the wall and tearing apart of the city.  The news broke Nehemiah’s heart.  He mourned and eventually petitioned God to help him rebuild.  Everywhere we turn we can see things break and fall apart.  Growing up in Chicago you could see cars all rusted out from the salt used to melt snow and ice.  In every city across the globe you will find buildings and homes in need of repair.  Let’s face it we live in a broken and fallen world.  Ever since the first sin of Adam and Eve our world has been falling apart.  Over the years we have patiently waited for God to restore everything back to like new status.  Only one problem with waiting for God to restore things back to the way they were.  He isn’t going to.  In the end the heaven and earth as we know it will cease to exist.  Things will not be restored but replaced.  Revelations 21:4 “…for the old order of things has passed away.”  

Isn’t it wonderful to walk into a brand new home for the first time?  Knowing it is new and not something old.  I remember wanting to purchase an old fixer upper house so that it can we could restore it.  Now I would rather just buy that new home.  I decided a long time ago I really didn’t want the headaches of the old house.  No matter what you do it is still an old house with old problems.  When God creates a new heaven and a new earth all the old problems will be gone.  We will live in perfect harmony with our Lord and Savior.  We will have an eternity in a new home…