“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” Isaiah 65:17
It had been tucked away for about 14 years…the glass pane that would one day POSSIBLY save me some money and time. If ever one of my house windows broke, all I would have to do is unscrew the frame and screw this one in its place. I’d probably save about $12 and a couple hours of time! In a rush, I was moving some large objects around when I heard the ‘crashing’ evidence that ‘tucked away’ wasn’t tucked enough!
O.K., so it’s confession time! About 5 years ago I was using a weedeater when it kicked up a stone and hurled a perfect, quarter sized circle right through one of my glass window panes. I KNEW I had that replacement and COULD have changed it. But I was in a hurry. I took a piece of clear tape and ‘Voila!’ Good enough! I never got around to replacing it. Now that I can’t, it doesn’t really matter. The tape is still working…just fine!
Much of my life is spent looking for stuff after forgetting where I put it! I’ve already told my kids that I’m going to leave them all my drawers of tools and spare parts to sort through. My wise son simply replied, “I’m backing up a dumpster and it’’ll a be gone!” Sniff!!! Now where’s the sentiment in THAT?
We all KNOW that this world is broken…that we were made for something better. Along the way I have collected and tucked away pictures, stuff and memories of the good times to help me get through rough patches. And there they sit! Perfectly incapable of affecting any real, long-lasting improvement through a crash! Instinctively, I KNOW there’s GOT to be a better way!
I have met the Creator and Sustainer of the world. I know Him PERSONALLY…and very well I might add. When I go to Him for comfort, he doesn’t point me to some trinket of my past for condolence. In fact, I can almost see Him smile, with a twinkle in His eye, as He repeats this verse from His Word. It reminds me that He didn’t come here to CLEAN or FIX ANYTHING!!
As I set here thinking about His plan, I love it more and more! Jesus doesn’t FIX my old refrigerator heart! He REPLACES it with HIS PERFECT one. That old stove with the broken burner is NOT part of HIS-Story! Because GOD’S fire burns quite well…right where He intended it from the start! In MY HEART! Which leads me to a dilemma!
What do I do with the spares, the parts, the tape and all that tucked away stuff in the corner? I think my son’s idea mirrors Jesus’ quite well. Because I can’t start NEW until I get rid of the OLD! If I listen carefully, I can hear Him ‘crashing in’ on a regular basis!! “HEY Jesus!!! BE CAREFUL WITH THAT!!!! THAT’S my favorite… oh….forget about it!”
and Jesus replied…”exactly!”
