Unbreakable Joy: Jesus vs. Entropy

Monday, June 2, 2008

Jesus vs. Entropy

Revelation 21:5a
And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."

Because of the fall (Gen. 3) we live in an environment overcome by entropy. Everywhere we look things are deteriorating. Cars need repair, houses too, even the human body is bound to this condition and we experience this to increasing degrees the older we get.

Yet in the midst of this fallen world there exist glimmers of newness, of unfading glory, ever free from our current bondage to decay. This magnificent glory, perfect in the presence of Him who makes all things new will one day be an absolute reality. I am thankful that even here in the midst of darkness we're given glimpses of His making all things new. I see evidences of this as I behold Him making many things new right in front of me. Almost as if He had said, "Watch this."

He seems to enjoy His work. We too enjoy it as He takes sinners and picks them up, cleans them off, fills them with grace which was previously non-existent. I've seen Him making friends and family new. A dad is made new as he does not follow in his father's abusive behavior and lovingly engages in relationship with his son. A mom is made new and miraculously becomes the mother she never had as she teaches, nurtures, and adores her child. A lustful eye is replaced by one that hungers rather for the pages of Scripture than for other previously desired pages. A thirst is now quenched at the fountain of living waters which before only ever tried to be quenched at the bottom of a bottle. A want is deeply satisfied with the treasure hidden in a field which had only ever really been interested in dollar signs.

You see He makes things new. And He gives us these gracious evidences as collateral on the promise that one day He will truly make ALL things new. One day, at His arrangement, there will be no more tears, no more pain, no more loss, and no more entropy.

5 comments:

Amanda said...: Thank you for this; it really spoke to me today. :); January 25, 2009 at 8:06 PM
Unbreakable Joy said...: Thanks. I'm grateful that you were spoken to.; January 26, 2009 at 8:45 AM
John said...: Beautiful post.; January 28, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Steve Spray said...: This is very well written. Thanks for such a good reminder.; February 8, 2009 at 7:29 PM
Unbreakable Joy said...: Thanks John and Steve.; February 8, 2009 at 9:54 PM

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Noteworthy Quotes

Christianity preaches the infinite worth of that which is seemingly so worthless and the infinite worthlessness of that which is seemingly so valued.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord.
- George Mueller

If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.
- C.S. Lewis

A pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself, a spiritual man is hard on himself and easy on others.
- A. W. Tozer

Our hearts are restless until we find our rest in Thee.
- Augustine

All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.
- Blaise Pascal

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
- Jim Elliot

Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
- C. S. Lewis

He loves Thee too little, who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for Thy sake.
- Augustine

The men of this world are children. Offer a child an apple or a bank note, and he will doubtless choose the apple.
- John Newton

In the end the heart longs not for any of God's good gifts, but for God Himself. To see Him and know Him and be in His presence is the soul's final feast. Beyond this there is no quest. Words fail. We call it pleasure, joy, delight. But these are weak pointers to the unspeakable experience.
- John Piper

God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Him, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
- C.S. Lewis

It is well that we accept the hard truth now: The man who would know God must give time to Him. He must count no time wasted which is spent in the cultivation of His acquaintance. He must give himself to meditation and prayer hours on end. So did the saints of old, the glorious company of the apostles, the Godly fellowship of the prophets and the believing members of the holy church in all generations. And so must we if we would follow in their train.
- A.W. Tozer

If God contains the fullness of all good things in Himself like an inexhaustible fountain, nothing beyond him is to be sought by those who strike after the highest good and all the elements of happiness.
- John Calvin

God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in Him.
- John Piper

God glorifies Himself toward the creature in two ways; by appearing to their understanding, and in communicating Himself to thief hearts and their rejoicing in and delighting in Him, and enjoying manifestations He makes of Himself. God is Glorified not only by His glories being seen, but by it’s being rejoiced in. When those that see it delight in it God is more glorified than if they only see it. His glory is then received by the whole soul, both by the understanding and by the heart. God made the world that he might communicate and the creature receive His glory, and that it might be received both by the mind and the heart. He that testifies His idea of God’s glory doesn’t glorify God so much as he that testifies also his approbation of it and his delight in it.
- Jonathan Edwards