All Things Right. All Things New.

Two phrases have interrupted my thoughts this Christmas. For you to try to follow the maze of my thinking would take you on a journey for which you are likely not prepared. Nor am I trying to avoid giving credit to the varied sources that are shaping my thinking be it song, sermon, screen or Scripture. Here’s the first phrase.

The prophecy recorded in Isaiah 11 foretells of “a shoot [that] will come up from the stump of Jesse” and then describes justice shaped by righteousness. “He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4  but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.”

True justice, in righteousness. What follows that is this curious list of things we rarely, if ever see, on this earth. It’s worth a read. What about: “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.”

If this describes how the world should be, we aren’t living in it now. There is so much that isn’t right. Can you make a list? I can too.

In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 1, the shoot from of the stump of Jesse foretold in Isaiah 11 is named. Jesus, who is born the Christ, finally came to this world that isn’t right.

Jump to 1 Peter 5:10-11 (NIV) “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

Did you catch that? This Christ who is paying attention to those who suffer, will “himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” We need restoration since we are damaged, weak, fragile and vacillating. For a different take on that same verse, let’s hear from the EasyEnglish Bible. Yep, that’s what I said, the EasyEnglish Bible. 1 Peter 5:10 says, “Yes, you will have trouble like this for a short time. But after that, God will make everything right.”
Making everything right is a matter of true justice. From injustice to true justice. From damaged, weak, fragile and vacillating to restored, strong, firm and steadfast.

True justice doesn’t mean those other people will get adjusted. True justice means that I’ll get adjusted too.

The world just isn’t right, hasn’t been for thousands of years. We could spend all of Christmas describing what’s wrong and living like this life is all that there is. Or we can look forward to a time when all will be right again.

All things right. God will make all things right.
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Some would say I grew up poor. We wore hand-me downs, ate leftovers, had a garden to feed the family. My daddy hunted and taught us to hunt for fun and food. We had what we needed. I grew up far richer than many others in many ways.

There were a few times a year when I’d get something new; my birthday, the beginning of the school year, and Christmas. I like new. It seems fresh, untouched, clean, welcoming. But it’s just stuff. Our current culture highly values new, and stuff. New cars. New clothes. New ideas.

I like new but I lean toward old. A quilt my great aunt made for me hanging in our living room. Things that my parent’s gathered that I now enjoy. 80-year-old reclaimed heart pine lumber that adorns a wall in our home. Memories of godly parents.

I live in the world of poor choices, cancer, stroke, ALS, dust, rust, irreparably damaged relationships that may be changed forever, planned obsolesce, polarized politics, and death. Things continue to fall apart.

In the futuristic, apocalyptic writing that is the book of Revelation, which we have no plans of studying in our small group Bible study, we get to look ahead. Revelation 21:5   says, “And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also, he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

All things new.

“But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13). I wonder what that new heaven and a new earth is going to be. The Bible gives indication of that future ‘new’. It’s my finite, human trapped imagination that can’t grasp it.

For that one to come, this one will have to go.

All. Things. New. I look forward to that new.

All. Things. Right. I look forward to that right.

May the reality of the coming prophesied Christ, the lights and gifts of this season, and even time with family and friends, remind you of far greater future hope and beauty when all will be right and all will be new. May this hope encourage you today to live with anticipation, and to share that hope with those around you. Merry Christmas!

I’ve been wearing out Come Jesus Come, song by CeCe Winans. Take a few minutes to listen. [link to CeCe Winans, Come Jesus Come, on YouTube.]