Behold, I Make All Things New

“And He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ Then He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’” — Revelation 21:5

As we begin a new year, we are reminded of one of the most beautiful promises in all of Scripture: God is making all things new. We look forward to the day when sin will be no more, when affliction will not rise again a second time, and when everything that has been broken will finally be made right. That hope lives deep in the heart of every believer.

From Firsts to Familiarity

Life begins with wonder. As children, everything feels new—our first taste of ice cream, our first bike ride without training wheels, our first kiss. As time goes on, new experiences continue: first jobs, first homes, first children. But eventually, the “firsts” grow fewer, and life begins to feel more repetitive. What once felt exciting now feels familiar. Days become routine, and life can start to feel like a merry-go-round—spinning, but not really going anywhere.

Scientists tell us that as we age, our brains record fewer new experiences. Familiar routines cause time to feel like it’s moving faster. We move more slowly, yet the years seem to fly by. As novelty fades, we often turn our gaze backward—clinging to memories, trying to hold onto what we’ve known. But like sand slipping through our fingers, the harder we grasp, the faster it seems to fall away.

You Were Made to Live Forever

We were not created for this cycle of decay. Despite what the world tells us, death is not simply “a part of life” as God intended it. We were made to live forever. Scripture consistently points us beyond the present moment toward something greater.

The apostle Paul captured this longing when he wrote:

*“Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the