When one turns to the Bible the theme of newness is pervasive. From the “In the beginning. . .” of Genesis 1, to God’s promises to the patriarchs and matriarchs, and to God’s people through the covenant given at Sinai, to the promise of the prophets of a new beginning through the coming of the Messiah, to the promise of a new Heaven and a new Earth, newness is a powerful overarching theme. The Prophet of the Exile, speaking for God, proclaims, “Behold, I make all things new!” As teacher, Jesus speaks of new wine for new wineskins. At the Last Supper Jesus announces the inauguration of the New Covenant in his own blood, symbolized by the wine shared by the Twelve about the table.
Beyond those new beginnings 2,000 years ago, church history again and again shows how God, at unexpected moments, through unlikely people, in out-of-the-way places, begins something altogether new, which is entirely of his own making. Consider the Reformation. Consider the Great Cen-tury of Missions. Consider the worldwide ecumenical movement. Consider the changes wrought in the United States in the last century, in part due to the prophetic witness of Christ’s church.
But for every uplifting moment in church history (and in the Bible), there are corresponding failures — abysmal failures on the part of leaders and people. Yet even the worst failure always results in providing God with yet another opportunity to pursue, to bless and to judge his chosen people.
The chosen people are not special; they are no better, and often worse, than those outside the tent. Yet God is able to do far more abundantly than God’s people ask or think. That is the incredible good news of the gospel. God will have his way. God’s will will be done. God’s reign will come. And nothing in Heaven or on Earth can stop it.
The foundational Christian conviction that the future is secure, that the victory has already been won has a marvelous way, through faith, of giving God’s people the confidence they need to keep getting back up after every stumble and fall, and allowing God to get them out of the ditch and back on the road again.
Robert H. Bullock Jr., Outlook editor for the past 15 years, is retiring as of Oct. 31.
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