"And the one who was seated on the throne said, 'See, I am making all things new.'"  Revelation 21:5.

I have been an iPhone user for almost three years, and although many more new-fangled smartphones have hit the market since then, I am one of those iPhone loyalists.   Not only that, I am still operating with my old iPhone 3G.   Since then, Apple has come out with the iPhone 3GS and the iPhone 4, which I have chosen to pass by because I was perfectly satisfied with my 3G.  Well, to be honest, I have not completely passed by the iPhone 4.  In my constant search to get Ruth a great Christmas present every year, I bought her the iPhone 4.   And I have to admit, it's pretty darn nice.   It is very sleek, has a better touch screen, a better camera for still pictures, and then it has that video option my iPhone does not have.  My smartphone looks pretty dumb in comparison these days. But so far, I have remained stalwart, feeling that what I presently have does everything I need to do. 

But... when I bought Ruth's iPhone 4 at the AT&T store, the clerk made a point of telling me that I also qualified for the upgrade to the same version at a greatly reduced price.   I was sorely tempted but thought it tacky to say: "Merry Christmas, honey, I bought us both new iPhones!"  And now, I am reading about the new iPhone 5 they say will be coming out next fall and I am wondering if I am going to stick to my guns or finally give in.   I mean, rumor has it that iPhone 5 will be able to do 3D!  I don't know why I would ever want or need that feature to make a phone call, but I'm thinking I'd figure it out soon enough.

When the post-resurrection Christ proclaims to us that he is making all things new, I am thinking that there will be no need for new-fangled, updated versions of his promise later.  What's amazing about that is the fact that in a world where we expect, and perhaps even depend upon new editions of our favorite things to come out on a regular basis, it is hard to imagine what it would be like to no longer have that hunger for something newer than the new thing we already have in hand.  What would it be like to be totally liberated from the grip of mass marketers who know what I am going to want before I do?

By faith I trust that indeed, Christ knows intimately the human heart, mind and soul and understands that mortal drive we have to come up with new things all the time.  But the promise of resurrection, and that image of life beyond mortal death, is all about being so fully satisfied in the presence of our Creator that the need to wonder what is yet to come will simply exist no longer.  I don't know what that will ultimately look or feel like, no mortal does, but if you think about it for awhile you will realize how profound a promise this really is.  Much of our living consists of asking the "what's next?" question (in a number of categories).  And, although anticipating the next new thing is always exciting, it can also be a great source of stress and worry.  We also know that at least part of the time, and for some, quite a lot of the time, this drive for new stuff inevitably sets us up for disappointment. The simple fact of the matter is that earthly reality can never completely live up to human expectation.

I'm guessing that sooner or later I'm going to break down and wind up with the iPhone 5, or "if by reason of strength" (Psalm 90), I can wait for the iPhone 6...I know I will never make it to the iPhone 7 or 8 without making a change.  And even when I once again have the smartest phone ever made in my mortal grip, I will remember that my true destiny lies in the promise that everything new in Christ stays new, never grows old...ever, and I will never be dissatisfied again!

Peace, Jeff