Recently, Craig Groeschel’s leadership podcast made an interesting assertion that we, as people, love change. At first, that sounded polar opposite of how most people feel but think about it—we love “new” things. We love the latest gadgets and cars, we love seeing new places and are committed each year to becoming a new person—new health, new body, new look, new goals.
However, as I considered this idea, a lot of these “new” things are really just upgraded things aren’t they?
I upgraded to an iPhone 7 from my 6 (or other previous phone). I got the new Silverado with 4 wheel drive. Check out my new farmhouse sink.
There is little in life that is truly new. After all, there’s nothing new under the sun.
God is in the business of new things. He says “anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person” and his answer in eternity for the pain in this world is “Behold, I’m making all things new.”
Even when we look back to all the miracles of life, and the great and amazing things God has done, He still looks forward to doing something new and something fresh. Isaiah 43:16-19 is one example of this in the Bible:
I am the LORD, who opened a way through the waters,
making a dry path through the sea.
I called forth the mighty army of Egypt
with all its chariots and horses.
I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned,
their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candlewick.
“But forget all that—
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
God reminded his people, who were actually in captivity at this writing, that He parted the Red Sea in the past and He would continue to provide for for the future because He is God. Then He says to forget that because something new is coming and it will be so much greater! At the time of their captivity, they had no idea God was ultimately going to send Jesus to save the world. We see through this, that sometimes the biggest blessings and miracles of God’s provision will still be small stepping stones to something greater, something new.
When looking back to the miracles of the past, God says, “forget all that” and watch me prepare you for new and greater things. He says he has already begun the new thing, even before we can see it. He calls us to have the faith to see it, and to trust He will provide. And sometimes in our own lives, what has happened is nothing compared to what God is preparing to do.
At Real Life, we believe that all of the experiences, miracles, and times of great provision in our lives have been leading up to this moment — to God doing something new. God has asked us to partner with what He is already doing in the lives of people in the Belton/Raymore area—making inroads and bringing life.
This new thing…it will take great faith and we are trusting and excited to follow this new path. We know it will take hard work by faithful people, and sacrifice to reach our goal of 100 launch team members and the finances necessary to launch a church. We want to be available for every opportunity that comes along, but we are so excited that God has already begun the work, and we are praying for eyes to see it.
Would you consider joining our launch team at Real Life Church? Or maybe you know someone in the Belton/Raymore area looking for a life-giving church and you could send them our way.
Additionally, we have asked God to provide the finances for our launch and we are trusting people to be faithful in how He asks them to give. We are praying for God to raise up a movement of worshippers who love to follow him. Will you join us?
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