All Things New

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful -Revelation 21:5

There was a time in my life where I endured almost constant pain in my lower back. It was nearly impossible to sit still in a chair or sleep through the night. It was extremely difficult to play tennis during this three year period yet I refused to stop playing. My singles buddy could see the pain on my face and often asked if I was done for the day.

I prayed every day for God to heal me and I knew He would answer this prayer. I never visited a chiropractor because I was not seeking temporary relief; I wanted a new back that was free from pain.

One morning I woke up and the pain was gone. I remember walking onto the tennis court and being able to hit with full strength. My tennis buddy was astonished. It has been about seven years since the healing and I continue to play tennis at full speed without pain. In order to prevent another back problem, I do one hundred stomach crunches every morning and make sure my back is straight any time I do any lifting. I also make sure to pray that my body stays healthy.

As I think of Jesus carrying the Cross to the place where they crucified Him, I remember how Mel Gibson portrayed Him so realistically. At one point, He saw his mother in the crowd and he saw the pain on her face. He said to her, "behold, I make all things new." He knew that His death on the Cross would conquer all sin and restore our broken relationship with God.

Today's video below comes from Stephen Curtis Chapman, a songwriter who almost quit after the death of his five-year-old daughter in a tragic accident. He understood that his daughter would have wanted him to keep singing and his hope in Heaven helps him to press on.

As we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection, let's keep hope alive that Jesus will make all things new. Whether we are suffering from an injury or the loss of a loved one, let's pray that Jesus can heal us. If our hearts are broken, let's pray for a new heart. Yes, Jesus can make all things new, all you have to do is ask...