New Is Good

New is good although the price tag for new isn’t always so good.  The sale and re-use of gently used items is extremely popular these days.  Local as well as online vendors put their used wares out for sale to the public, and I suppose it’s really true – “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” 

One thing for which I am so grateful is that our God is one of “newness.”  Used items can really be new-again – and, isn’t it great!  New old things at a great price even sweetens the deal!  Spiritually, it’s never too late to begin again!  God told Isaiah, “Behold, I will do a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19), and to Ezekiel God said, “I will give them one heart and I will put a new spirit within them” (Ezekiel 11:19).  New directions can indeed seem a bit daunting but with a forgiven past and promising future, gracious and refreshing is the reward.  Louisa Fletcher wrote of beginning again: “I wish that there were some wonderful place -- In the Land of Beginning Again -- Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches -- And all of our poor selfish grief -- Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door --and never put on again.”  Oh, Louisa and friend, there is such a place – because of Christ!  God’s mercy and grace gives us opportunity to drop that “shabby old coat” of past mistakes for one of newness and joy. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (1 Corinthians 5:17).  See, the old can be wonderfully new again!  New is good – really really good!