“Behold, I make all things new.”
These words from Revelation 21:5 (ESV) are bursting with hope, a powerful promise from God that the pain, the sorrow, the frustrations of this life are temporary, that something better awaits. But maybe what we love most about this verse is who and what the promise applies to. ALL things. There are no disclaimers, no qualifiers, no fine print hiding out at the bottom of the page saying, “eligibility subject to approval.”
ALL things.
As we began discussing a redesign of the semi-annual newsletter for Christian Children’s Home of Ohio (CCHO), formerly known as “Shareline,” we wondered if there may be a more meaningful name for the publication, something with a relevant connection to God’s Word that illustrates our desire to more effectively communicate information about our counseling, foster care and adoption ministries along with the latest from the CCHO campus. Our search eventually led us to those two simple yet striking words: all things.
No matter what we’ve done, the ugliness locked away in our past, the hurt we carry or even the hurt we may have caused others, Jesus redeems us all when we call to Him. What an incredible gift.
But then God took hold of this idea and showed us just how significant those two words truly are.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)
“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” (Matthew 19:26 NIV)
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 ESV)
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things.” (Colossians 1:19-20 NIV)
In our debut issue and future editions of “All Things,” we will share “all things” related to our family of ministries. You will read stories and learn about the ways God continues to bless the work we do, how He makes the impossible possible, how He demonstrates His love and power through us and the people we help, and how Jesus can redeem anyone, no matter how broken, and anything, no matter how messy.
And you will be reminded, as we are each day, of the healing and salvation that is found only in His love.
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” (1 Corinthians 13:7-8 ESV)
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2017 issue of our All Things newsletter.
