Time of Year for Making Old Things New

Did you know spring is like Christmas? In their own ways, they’re both a “most wonderful time of the year.” Springtime brings warmer temperatures; flowers are starting to burst forth; and nature as a whole is emerging from its winter slumbers. It’s a time for renewal, reinvigoration, even rebirth.

 

Before long we’ll be seeing those creatures both curious and wonderful – caterpillars – crawly little critters aspiring to become something bigger, brighter and definitely more beautiful: Butterflies. What an amazing thing: a fuzzy creature slinking slowly along the ground that somehow knows how to build a rebirthing chamber called a chrysalis, only to emerge within a few short weeks as something totally different, newly equipped with delicate, colorful wings for flitting from place to place. 

 

This is more than a scientific marvel. It’s a miracle, a profound example of God’s creative capacities. It’s also a glorious metaphor for spiritual truth – God’s grand desire to turn each of us into something totally new, unstained by sin and its consequences. In fact, 2 Corinthians 5:17 puts it this way: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 

 

Sounds like that one-time caterpillar that has wrestled out of its chrysalis, doesn’t it? The difference is, our own transformation spiritually is all God’s doing. We respond to Him by faith, but He’s the change agent. As Jesus Christ told Nicodemus, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3). We can’t do that ourselves.

 

It’s a profound mystery, but true nonetheless, that as Galatians 2:16-20 describes it, “…So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law…. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

 

Why is this comparison of the lowly caterpillar and humans so important? Because it provides a common but compelling example of how God has worked from the very beginning, first speaking substance out of nothingness, as well as taking the old and broken and restoring it in ways that no longer resemble what was before. In Isaiah 43:18-19 God declares, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing? Now it sprints up; do you not perceive it?” 

 

One doesn’t need to look too hard or too far to observe the sorry, sickly state into which our society has descended. In vain we look for manmade cures. The very best that government or business or philosophy can conjure fall way short of fixing the seemingly unfixable. New laws, innovations and human reasoning seem little more than a Band-Aid for problems that require major surgery for spiritual heart disease.

 

Should we give up in frustration and despair? Not at all, and that’s one reason I believe God created the caterpillar-butterfly metamorphosis. It’s a visible depiction of how He intends to work in each of our lives, if we let Him. 

 

Near the close of the Book of all books, the Lord says, “I am making everything new!... Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true…. It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life” (Revelation 21:5-6).

 

The “new thing” God spoke about thousands of years ago, as recorded by the prophet Isaiah? He’s still doing it. Current residents of a world overwhelmed by so much pain and sorrow, we have the promise of a new world like nothing we’ve known: 

“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4).

Any time you’re feeling down in the dumpster, fearing our world is going the wrong place in the proverbial handbasket, just look at a butterfly for a reminder: New things, they are a-comin’! 

Spring: A Timely Reminder of an Eternal Truth

Dogwood blossoms - messengers that
spring has indeed arrived.

A few weeks ago, perhaps when we weren’t looking or paying attention, spring arrived. For people in some parts of the country, belated snowstorms made that hard to believe, but it showed up just the same. Looking out the window of our home in late March and early April, blossoms that suddenly appeared on our dogwood tree gave evidence to it.

Throughout the winter the tree had stood barren, without a single leaf to show any sign of life. Then out sprouted the blossoms, followed by tiny leaves, ones that soon will grow to full size and vibrant green. I don’t know that trees “play possum,” but for several months this tree definitely appeared dead. Then it burst forth with life, demonstrating that despite purported “climate change,” the seasonal renewal cycle remains in effect.

Soon flowers will be blooming brilliantly in their gardens, bees will be flitting from petal to petal. Grass – and weeds – will display their hearty return. Birds will resume chirping, mosquitoes will again “buzz off,” and all things spring will have sprung. Manifestations of “Mother Nature” will be renewed.

Renewal is a common part of everyday life, too, from the annual renewing of subscriptions for periodicals to insurance premiums to memberships in favorite organizations. For many things in life, it’s not once for all time – a restart is necessary from time to time.

Interestingly, renewal is a key to spiritual growth as well, both collectively and individually. This theme recurs throughout the Scriptures, in both Old and New Testaments, providing a foundation for becoming a consistent, fruitful follower of Jesus Christ. However, unlike natural renewal which occurs like clockwork – you can almost set your calendar by it – spiritual renewal isn’t automatic. It involves God and the believer working in tandem. Here are some biblical principles about renewal:

Renewal is not optional for Christ followers. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Renewal is a work of God. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

Renewal involves an act of the will. “lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and…be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Renewal begins in the mind. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

Renewal focuses on the present and the future, not the past. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:18-19).

Renewal must be – renewed - daily. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).

Renewal results in making us more like our God. “…since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Colossians 3:9-10).

So as we enjoy the return of beautiful flowers and trees, watch the squirrels, rabbits and other critters frolicking in our yards, and engage of myriad springtime activities, let this season of renewal serve as a visual reminder of our great need for spiritual renewal as well – beginning with today.