Saturday, January 1, 2022

New Beginnings: Triplets of Rebirth

 

 
 

2022 -- the dawning of a new year when it seems that even more than ever before, the world needs a new beginning. The COVID pandemic has ravaged the world with death, illness, economic disruption, and many unwelcome changes to our way of life. Signs of the times (Matthew 24) herald Christ's soon return to rapture His church: wars, rumors of wars, plague, famine, catastrophic weather, natural disasters, signs in the sky, apostasy, false teachings and teachers, and loss of love and even natural affection. 
 
At any New Year, we are blessed with new beginnings. In many parts of the world, freshly fallen snow creates a pristine landscape, cleansed of yesterday’s grime and soot, coating tree branches with feathery plumes and sparkling crystal, and blanketing downy fields that invite fresh footprints.

Those who celebrate Christmas with gift giving are enjoying their new presents – perhaps the novel experience of an exotic fragrance, the taste and texture of undiscovered gourmet treats, the exciting look of the latest fashion accessory, or even the crisp, cool feel of new sheets. My husband and I were delighted to break in our Christmas presents from our children -- awesome new bikes that we rode around the island where our favorite beach is located! Sore muscles and all, we felt like kids again!
 
All across the globe people are viewing the first page of their new calendar or journal, and many of us who read devotionals are marveling that once again it is January of a new year. 

The New Year, as well as the start of each month and even the dawning of each new day, is like an automatic reset button. Praise God that His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), and that no matter what mistakes we have made and what sins we have committed, He is quick to forgive us and to cleanse us from our sins if we confess them and repent (I John 1:9)

In our daily Bible reading, we are back to Genesis, contemplating the Creator of all, the self-existent One Who simply was “in the beginning.” (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1). Without Him was nothing made that is made (John 1:3). As we have seen in our study of triplets in Scripture, the attributes of God, the Names of Jesus, types of worship, and works of His creation can be described in groups of three. This pattern continues as we look at new beginnings of the earth and of human life. 

The Bible describes three new beginnings for the earth and all it contains, even though the earth will in one form or another continue eternally (Psalm 78:69; Ecclesiastes 1:4). First, God created the heavens and earth, as well as light, celestial bodies, water, plants, animals, and man (Genesis 1). But once Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin and death entered their world, and even the earth was cursed and fell into corruption (Genesis 3:17-19; Hebrews 1:11-12; Romans 8:22). 

The second beginning for the earth was the flood, in which God caused cataclysmic changes on the earth and its oceans and destroyed most of the earth’s inhabitants because of man’s wickedness (Genesis 7). 

The third beginning for the earth will be renovation by fire, occurring after Christ’s return and His reign in the Millennial Kingdom. Even the very elements of the earth will then burn with an intense heat (2 Peter 3:10) in preparation for the new heavens and new earth (2 Peter 3:13). Christ will make all things new (Revelation 21:5), purging the earth from the corruption of the curse, sin and death. 

For God’s children, human life also has three beginnings: conception, birth, and being born again. For every human being, life begins at the moment of conception, at that defining moment when the union of sperm and egg result in a reassortment of genetic material from both the father and mother, containing all the instructions needed to ensure development of a unique person with specific physical and emotional traits.

Everyone on earth was born on a specific year, date and time, with our birthday marking our beginning in this world, that moment when we first cried out to announce our presence. Pediatricians note the newborn’s weight, length, and head circumference and track these three measurements throughout early development. But we were born “few of days and full of trouble,” (Job 14:1) with only a very brief, limited time (James 4:14) to overcome and subdue our sin nature and to honor God with our life.

This can happen only if we have a new spiritual beginning – that moment in time when we are born again (John 3:3-8). That rebirth requires that we come to the end of our natural self and die to our sin nature (1 Corinthians 15:31), realizing that we are sinners in need of a Savior (Romans 3:23-28), and that without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5)
 
Only when we place our faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15: 3-4) as the only way to Heaven (John 14:6) can we be reborn as a new creation in Him (Hebrews 12:24; Galatians 6:15; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

God has created each born-again believer with the potential to use our own peculiar characteristics to glorify Him, no matter how the world perceives us (Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:13). What others might see as a defect is like clay in God’s hands to be fashioned into a special vessel consecrated to His purpose (Isaiah 29:16; 64:8; Romans 9:21). At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit indwells us and equips us with at least one spiritual gift to be used to encourage fellow believers (1 Corinthians 12).

A new beginning awaiting all believers is the Rapture, when we will have new bodies, a new address, and a new name (Revelation 2:17). Our bodies will be like that of the resurrected Christ (Philippians 3:21), and we will never die, age, or become ill. Instead of pain, sorrow, and tears, we will experience vitality, joy, and a new song. (Isaiah 35:10; Revelation 5:9; 21:4). Our new home will be in our own mansion, (John 14:2) in Heaven, in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2)

As the New Year begins, I’m eagerly anticipating what God has in store for this year, and even more eagerly awaiting the new beginning of the Rapture! It could be this year or even this very day – may we be ready by knowing and serving Him! 

© 2013 Laurie Collett

Edited and reposted from the archives

 

8 comments:

Brenda said...

Hi Laurie,
yes I too believe that everything that is happening in the world is linking to the prophesies of the end times, and it is very important to share the gospel of salvation to all. We do not even know what tomorrow brings. God bless you and a very happy new year.

Frank E. Blasi said...

Dear Laurie,
With both Christmas and New Year already behind us, soon all the decorations will come down, the Christmas cards disposed of, the youngsters will don their school uniform, and the rest of the population will once again commute to work. At least, that's what it's like here in the UK.
January is often perceived as the darkest and the gloomiest month of the year.
But as a Christian, I disagree.
Rather, with the winter solstice also behind us, we can look forward to the days becoming longer, nights shorter, and the weather warmer. As you say, His mercies are new every morning.
God bless you and Richard and I hope this coming year will be a good one.

Laurie Collett said...

Amen, Brenda! Life is but a vapor, and Jesus Christ could return this very night! May we make the most of the time we have to draw others to Him. Happy New Year and God bless you too!
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Frank,
We're still enjoying Christmas decorations in our home, and plan to keep them up at least until Russian Orthodox Christmas, keeping a tradition set by my Ukrainian grandmother. But we have a hard and fast rule that the nativity scenes must be down by Easter! :-)
The lengthening days remind us of what John the Baptist said, "He must increase, while I must decrease."
Many blessings to you and Alex for health, fruitfulness, peace and joy in the New Year and until He comes again!
Laurie

Tanza Erlambang said...

Mery Christmas and Happy new year to you and yours ...

# Pray for new wonderful beginning in 2022

Laurie Collett said...

Thank you, Tanza, for your comment and kind wishes! May 2022 be a wonderful beginning for all. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
God bless,
Laurie

Susan said...

Hi Laurie, love your descriptions of snow and our need for renewing. Also the groups of threes, I hadn’t considered it past the Trinity, but you are so right! Even when we read a book we think in terms of beginning, dramatic climax and ending. And we ourselves also have our past, present moment, and future, and when we look at the history of the world there is Before Christ, the time Christ was on earth, and now after Christ/ church age until the Lord returns.
My husband and I just bought new bikes but are waiting to ride them in the spring. We will only ride on bike paths, not on regular streets. Neither of us has ridden a bike for many years so we are going to take it slow snd enjoy the rides. ☺️
Happy new year ❤️

Laurie Collett said...

Hi Susan,
Thanks for your comment, encouragement, and great examples of groups of threes in our lives!
Hope you both have fun on your bikes! You are wise to wait for safer conditions and to start back up slow and easy. My husband and I hadn't ridden for years either, and it took me a little while to get used to the back pedal instead of a hand brake, but it was great fun!
Happy New Year to you and yours,
Laurie