Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. ~Jeremiah 6:16
What’s Wrong With God’s Old Things
If you spent any time in the Charismatic Movement or in much of American Evangelicalism, you probably got the impression that something big was always on the horizon.
Just beyond our reach was the next big move of God…He was just waiting on us to reach the critical mass of fearless faith. We thought God was always planning a groundbreaking movement that would take the world by storm.
But the big new thing never came. And while we were waiting, we missed something beautiful.
God is NOT doing a “NEW thing”! Rather, our Great God and Savior is doing a very OLD thing…
Every single day, God continues His quiet work of redemption in the hearts of individuals in every nation. It doesn’t get reported in the news and most people are not impressed or interested.
It’s an OLD work as ancient as the Garden. Our history began with a promise regarding the Seed of the woman who would crush the serpent’s head.
It’s VERY OLD, because the work of saving sinners by grace through faith has been the LORD’s MO since the beginning. From Abraham to Rahab to the Philippian jailer to you and me, we all testify that God has been doing the same thing all along!
Actually, the work of redemption is even OLDER than that. Before the foundation of the world, God had prepared a Lamb to atone for the sins of His children. (See Revelation 13:8 and 1 Peter 1:20-21)
In every century, no matter the political or cultural landscape, the Ancient of Days has been unfolding His master plan of salvation. From the Stone Age to the Information Age, the purpose of God is fixed and it has never changed. He uses common, ordinary folk in hidden places to preach Christ crucified. Faithful nobodies in the African bush and the jungles of Papua proclaim that Jesus is risen and Jesus is Lord. “Repent and believe the Gospel.”
So when you hear of this modern day obsession about God doing a “NEW thing”, pay it no attention. God is not interested in “shifting atmospheres” in politics or “igniting a generation” to conquer the 7 mountains of cultural influence…NO!
Christ said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36a) His instruction to His followers was not to “make a difference” but to make DISCIPLES, teaching them to observe all that Christ commanded. (Matt 28:19-20)
His mission remains the same and we are His servants. His mission is this…
”I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.” (John 10:16)
When the last sheep enters the fold, this ancient work will conclude and THEN He will do a NEW THING! After executing judgment on His enemies, the LORD says, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Rev 21:5b)
So unless the “new thing” proponents are talking about the final judgment and the New Heavens and New Earth, then they are wrong. God is still carrying forward His daily work of saving wicked sinners through the finished work of Christ!
He’s not changing His methods or means of salvation nor is He raising up a superstar generation. The Lord may be doing works of sanctification in your life that feel new to you, but He’s not implementing any new strategies.
The kingdom of Christ still marches on without fanfare through the faithful preaching of the Gospel and the labors of the saints to make disciples in all that Christ commanded.
Forget new things this side of Heaven and rejoice in partaking in the OLD work of our Gracious and Compassionate God!
Grace to you all!
In His Grip,
An Ex-NAR Christian
P.S. The verse below (and its context) is about the coming of Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, not some “revival” hosted by “prophet” so and so at the local stadium…
“Behold, I will do something new,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.“ – Isaiah 43:19
