God Makes Everything New

 

Reflections on Isaiah 65:17–25 & Luke 21:5–19

Every now and then, Scripture gives us a picture so beautiful that it stops us in our tracks. Isaiah does that when he shares God’s promise:

“I am about to create new heavens and a new earth.”

It’s not a minor touch-up. It’s not God patching holes in a broken world. It’s a complete renewal—joy where sorrow once ruled, life flourishing instead of fading, peace so deep even nature participates. It’s a world where people get to enjoy the work of their hands and where fear no longer steals the future.

It’s breathtaking.
And honestly, sometimes it feels worlds away from what we see around us.

That’s why the passage in Luke speaks so sharply into the conversation.

Jesus’ disciples admire the beauty and strength of the temple—this massive, impressive symbol of stability. And Jesus just quietly says, “It’s all coming down.” He tells them the truth about what they’ll face: conflict, betrayal, confusion, pressure. The things that feel solid won’t always hold.

If Isaiah lifts our eyes to God’s promised future,
Luke shows us the shaky ground of the present.

And this—this tension—is where faith actually lives.

Between Promise and Reality

Jesus doesn’t sugar-coat anything. He doesn’t spin the story. He tells the disciples there will be days when it feels like the world is cracking open. But notice what He does give them:

  • “Do not be terrified.”

  • “I will give you words and wisdom.”

  • “By your endurance you will gain your souls.”

There’s something incredibly comforting here. Jesus knows what His followers will face, and He promises two gifts for the journey: His presence within them and the strength to endure.

He doesn’t say, “Figure it out on your own,” or “Good luck with that.”
He says, “I will put My words in you when you need them most.”

And that changes everything.

Isaiah Gives Us the Destination

Isaiah reminds us of where God is taking the world. This life—this messy, complicated, fragile life—is not the final version. God is moving all creation toward a future defined by joy, justice, peace, and renewal. It’s not wishful thinking; it’s the direction of God’s own heart.

That promise is something to cling to—not as escapism, but as orientation.
It tells us which way the story is going.

Jesus Gives Us the Posture for the Journey

Jesus tells us how to walk through the present:

Not afraid.
Not silent.
Not defeated.
Not hopeless.

But steady.
Rooted.
Enduring.
Trusting that when the moment comes, God will give the wisdom and courage needed.

It’s humbling, honestly. We don’t endure because we’re strong. We endure because God’s promise keeps pulling us forward, and God’s Spirit keeps filling us when we’re empty.

Why This Matters Right Now

Maybe your life feels a little like that temple: stones you thought would stay stacked forever… have started to wobble.
Maybe things you depended on haven’t held.
Maybe the future feels unclear or the world feels too loud.

Isaiah says: The future God is building is bigger than any loss.
Jesus says: You don’t walk through this alone. I will give you the words. I will give you the strength.

That's the heart of faith:
Living today with courage because we trust the God who holds tomorrow.

The Promise That Carries Us

So we keep going.
We keep praying, loving, serving, building, hoping.
Not because the world is easy,
but because God’s future is real
and God’s presence is near.

Isaiah lifts our eyes.
Jesus steadies our steps.
And together they remind us that the promise of God’s future is strong enough to carry us through the most fragile moments of our present.

Amen.

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