All Things New

1. The World Suffers a Crisis of Hope, Longing for Restoration

By hope, I don’t mean wishful thinking. I’m not talking about “holding a positive thought,” as one friend calls it. When I speak of hope, I mean the confident anticipation that goodness is coming.

A global crisis. Humanity is experiencing a profound crisis of hope, evidenced by skyrocketing rates of depression, suicide, anxiety, and addiction. This despair manifests loudly in politics and economies, and quietly in the hearts of millions. People are ravenous creatures, untethered from traditional institutions, desperately seeking good news and meaning in a world that constantly thwarts their deepest longings.

Life's brutal reality. The author shares personal tragedies—a family suicide, a miscarriage, the loss of dear friends to cancer—to illustrate that life is brutal, filled with enough goodness to rouse our hearts, but also enough sadness to cut us down. This constant cycle of loss, from childhood goodbyes to the inevitable farewells of loved ones, leaves us wondering if happiness ever gets the final word. We need an unbreakable, unquenchable hope to overcome the agony and trauma of this world.

The riddle of promise. Despite the pain, a profound promise seems woven into the tapestry of life, whispering through moments of beauty, precious memories, and the earth itself. This promise perfectly aligns with our deepest longing for life to come together as it was always meant to be. The core message of Christianity, often misunderstood, is not escapism to a vague heaven, but the triumphant entry of an astonishing hope: the "renewal of all things," a rock-solid expectation of goodness coming.

2. God's Breathtaking Promise: The Renewal of All Things

“Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne . . . everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”

Palingenesia revealed. Jesus casually introduced the concept of "the renewal of all things" (palingenesia), a Greek word meaning "beginning again" or "re-creation." This promise, deeply rooted in Old Testament prophecies of a Great Restoration (e.g., Isaiah 51:11, 60:5, 65:17-19), signifies that God's intention is not annihilation, but the re-creation of the world, including the earth we love. His miracles, like healing the crippled and raising the dead, were unforgettable demonstrations of this coming restoration.

Redemption, not destruction. Many mistakenly believe God will destroy the current reality and create an entirely new, ethereal heaven. However, Scripture clarifies that creation itself "looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay" (Romans 8:21 NLT). Peter's description of the earth being "destroyed by fire" (2 Peter 3:10) is analogous to the Flood, which cleansed and renewed the earth, not annihilated it. The fire will scour away dross, leaving the good to remain.

A tangible future. The climax of the Bible, Revelation 21:1-5, declares, "I am making everything new!" This means a renewed earth, with the New Jerusalem descending from heaven, and God's dwelling place among people. This is not a vague "Sweet By-and-By" but a tangible restoration, where things like houses, lands, and even drinking wine at a glorious wedding feast (Revelation 19:9, Isaiah 25:6-8) will be real. Jesus's post-resurrection life, surprisingly ordinary, serves as a forerunner for our own restored existence.

3. Our Personal Restoration: Wholehearted, Glorious, and Forever Young

This moment is yours, as sure and certain as God himself. Sure as the renewal of heaven and earth.

Beyond physical healing. Just as King Caspian in The Silver Chair is restored from old age and death to a vibrant young man, we too will be completely renewed—body, soul, and spirit. This goes beyond mere physical recovery, like healing from an injury or illness; it encompasses a complete restoration of our youth and vitality. "He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence" (Psalm 103:4-5 THE MESSAGE). We will burst forth into the new creation with boundless joy and energy, like children on summer break.

Internal wholeness. The promise of "no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (Revelation 21:4) extends to our internal world. Jesus, the Healer, comes to "bind up the brokenhearted" (Isaiah 61:1). Decades of trauma research confirm that human beings are often a collection of shattered "pieces," fragmented by life's hurts. In the kingdom, we will be made wholehearted, fully integrated beings, free from:

• Fear, anger, compulsions
• Battles to forgive, resentment
• Doubt, lust, regret, shame, self-hatred
• Mental illness and internal civil wars

Shining with glory. Our renewed bodies will be like Jesus's resurrected body—beautiful, whole, and radiant. We will possess the character and internal holiness of Christ himself, shining "like the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matthew 13:43). This internal glory will match the external beauty of our renewed selves. The joy of seeing our loved ones restored—young, well, alive, and free from their lifelong battles—will be immense, leading to countless reunions and the telling of stories that finally reveal the true beauty and dignity of each life.

4. A New Earth: A World of Wonder and Partnership with Creation

The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead.

Wonder reawakened. The new earth will be a world of breathtaking wonder, sparkling like an orchard after a rain shower. Like the enchanting realms of Narnia or Pandora, it will be familiar yet profoundly new, a blend of the known and the magical. This reawakening of wonder is crucial, as "only the child-heart can receive the kingdom" (Mark 10:14-15). Our hearts, no matter how deeply buried, still remember we were made for this glorious, re-enchanted world.

A vibrant animal kingdom. The new earth will be teeming with a renewed animal kingdom, joyful partners to humanity. Scripture confirms the presence of horses (Revelation 19:11-14), wolves, lambs, leopards, and lions (Isaiah 11:6-9), all living in harmony. Animals will no longer fear us but will long to love and serve us, as they did in Eden. Imagine:

• Animals coming to our call, forming deep, holy friendships.
• Communicating with intelligent creatures in their own languages.
• Riding golden eagles or swimming with whales.

Play and exploration. The renewed earth will be our playground, offering endless opportunities for adventure and exploration. We will revisit treasured places, see them in their unveiled glory, and discover new wonders across vast landscapes, microscopic worlds, and even the heavens. With restored bodies like Christ's, capable of defying current limits, we will run without tiring, explore without end, and engage with creation in ways only imagined in our wildest stories. This is why we don't need a "bucket list"—it's all ours, forever.

5. The Overthrow of Evil: Justice Served and Wrongs Made Right

Pause and let this be true: evil is judged and utterly destroyed. Forever and ever. Not just in the fairy tale, but here in reality, in our Story.

Evil vanquished. The Great Restoration necessitates the complete overthrow and destruction of Satan and his armies. Just as Aslan defeats the White Witch or Eowyn slays the Witch King, Revelation 20:7-10 promises that "the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur." This means an end to all forms of evil, accusation, temptation, and the dark clouds that often obscure our relationship with Jesus. Imagine a world utterly free from the torment of living in an evil age.

Justice for all. Our hearts cry out for justice, especially in the face of unspeakable evils like human trafficking, child abuse, and systemic oppression. Revelation 18:1-10 describes the condemnation of "Babylon the Great," the spiritual force behind such corruptions, with a punishment that is "double for what she has done." This is not merely revenge, but righteous justice, bringing immense relief and vindication to those who have suffered. The triumphant shout of "Hallelujah!" (Revelation 19:1-8) will echo through the kingdom as evil is finally brought to account.

Personal vindication and recompense. Beyond global justice, our individual stories will be "told rightly" (1 Corinthians 3:10-14). All the misunderstandings, false accusations, and unseen sacrifices will be brought to light and defended by Jesus himself. Furthermore, all that was stolen from us—blessings, gifts, opportunities, and personal restoration—will be repaid a hundredfold. Imagine opening "treasure chests" filled with these restitutions, thrilling your heart and redeeming so much of what you endured. This promise of intimate, personal justice is a profound hope for the coming kingdom.

6. Our Glorious Roles: Creative Partnership in God's Kingdom

We will not sit around looking at one another or at God for eternity but will join the eternal Logos, “reign with him,” in the endlessly ongoing creative work of God.

Beyond eternal rest. After the wedding feast, our unending life in the kingdom will be filled with purpose and activity. God, our powerful and creative Father, made us in His image to be powerful and creative sons and daughters. Just as Adam and Eve were commissioned to "reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth" (Genesis 1:26 NLT), we too "will reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:10). This is not passive rest, but an active, creative partnership with God.

A city of endless discovery. The New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2-16) will be a massive, stunning city, a hub for the renewal of arts, sciences, education, and trades. Imagine:

• Learning languages and history from the very figures who lived them.
• Studying philosophy with great thinkers or astronomy with Galileo.
• Creating music, building instruments, designing architecture.
• Exploring the microscopic world and the vast universe.

Unleashed potential. All our latent potential, talents, and gifts—often thwarted, damaged, or never realized in this life—will be fully restored and amplified. We will be able to pursue everything we've ever dreamed of doing, expressing our unique personhood in ways far greater than Adam and Eve in the first Eden. This is a promotion, a partnership with God, where we develop as apprentices to Jesus, taking our place in the "endlessly ongoing creative work of God."

7. The Marriage of Heaven and Earth: Anticipating Jesus's Return

The great hope and expectation of the Christian faith is focused on one dramatic, startling event, sudden as a bolt of lightning, sharp as the tip of a sword: the bodily return of Jesus Christ, and with that, the renewal of all things.

Heaven is temporary. While heaven is a real and precious paradise where our loved ones in Christ currently reside, it is not our eternal dwelling place. Jesus himself is in heaven "until the time comes for God to restore everything" (Acts 3:21). The ultimate hope of the Christian faith is not going up to heaven, but the bodily return of Jesus Christ, which ushers in the "marriage of heaven and earth" as the heavenly Jerusalem descends to our renewed planet.

Watch and be ready. Jesus consistently urged his followers to "keep watch" and "be ready" for his return, warning against the "wicked attitude" of believing "my master is staying away a long time" (Matthew 24:45-51). The parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) starkly illustrates the danger of unpreparedness. This watchfulness is not about predicting dates, but maintaining a posture of eager anticipation, as commanded by Christ and echoed by the apostles (1 Peter 1:13, Philippians 3:20).

A shift in perspective. This understanding radically transforms our attitude toward death. While grief is natural, devastation is not, because "nothing is lost" for the friends of God. Our loved ones are not dead but more alive than ever, awaiting the Great Restoration. This robust confidence in the face of death, a hallmark of the early church, should replace the desperate clinging to this life. Furthermore, this tangible hope fuels evangelism, offering a compelling answer to the world's crisis of hope, as God "is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish" (2 Peter 3:9).

8. Grab Hold with Both Hands: Anchor Your Soul in This Hope

We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God.

The power of this hope. This hope is not a peripheral doctrine but an "unbreakable spiritual lifeline" (Hebrews 6:18-19 THE MESSAGE). Without it, we are vulnerable to the world's pain and the high burnout rates of those fighting injustice. As C.S. Lewis noted, Christians who made the most difference in this world were those who thought most of the next. This hope is the armor against discouragement, the fuel for confident action, and the revolutionary force that transforms our lives.

Conscious choices. To truly anchor our souls in this hope, we must make conscious, deliberate decisions to give our hearts to the return of Jesus and the renewal of all things. This means:

• Asking ourselves: "How is my hope these days? Where is my hope these days?"
• Redirecting our "kingdom heart" from worldly counterfeits to God's true promise.
• Praying, "Jesus, I give my hope to your true and certain return, and the renewal of all things," especially when anxiety or disappointment strikes.
• Acknowledging loss with "Nothing is truly lost; this will be restored to me."

Filling the imagination. Our imaginations, often impoverished by a cynical culture, need to be filled with rich, tangible images of the coming kingdom. Ask Jesus to reveal glimpses of his kingdom through dreams, nature, art, and stories. This isn't wishful thinking; it's actively engaging with the reality of God's promise. The more our imaginations seize upon this reality, the more our souls will be anchored, freeing us to love without fear of ultimate loss, and to live with contagious confidence, knowing that "He renews all things."