What's new...isn't.

     Solomon writes that there is "nothing new under the sun" and he's right of course.  We think that we have discovered something new when it's been there all along.  Expanding our knowledge isn't something new.  Expanding our knowledge is understanding that that which we discover has existed since time began.  In that sense there is nothing new under the sun, moon or stars.  We pride ourselves in discovery of space, science, truth, and other realms only to understand at the end of our quest that too isn't new.  So, what's new for us?  Are we to live a mundane life in a mundane world?  Is everything predestined by God so that we have no purpose other than to carry out his will?  I think not.  I believe that the greatest discovery is to unearth who we really are.  In the Old Testament we are told (Psalm 149) that we are created by God before the founding of the world.  Then, if we fast forward, we are told in Revelation that we will be given a new name.  My guess is that the name we will be given will be our last "new" discovery but has existed since the time we were created.  In the in between time we will move from here to there doing this and that while carrying out the will of God in our existence.  Rubbing elbows with others to see who they are discovering themselves to be just as we are discovering who we are.
     Nature gives us glimpses of "newness" in the growth and production of their particular design.  Given that everything has a purpose (Solomon), we can rest assured that the seasons, the cycles and the short life of the grass that so quickly passes away resembles our own lives.  From the time we became alive when we were dead (yeah, I know, it's kinda weird) until the time we go home there are going to be the same seasons, cycles and short life that nature experiences.  The difference?  Man was given a purpose.  Like nature, that purpose is solely to bring glory to God.  That's also  not new.  We act like it's new when we discover that purpose.  According to Scripture our lives are new every day and in that sense our bringing glory to God is new every day as well.  Yesterday is not new.  Tomorrow isn't either.  Today is new. Now is new.  Every breath we take is new.  Even though we would like to direct our own lives, the best we can do is discover what already is.  With God the doors are kicked open and we are given insight, leading and a life filled with newness.  Allowing God to live through our lives should be breathtaking!
     Breathtaking is a wonderful word that summarizes a discovery of God's working out something according to his will.  There is no newness in our repeating what we did yesterday with the same results.  Instead of breathtaking we settle for same old, same old.  Not exactly rocket science.  What is the Christian to do?  The world goes around making new patents, making new proclamations, and making new excuses to not give the glory to God.  People trademark that which isn't really new at all and make sure on one violates their copyrights.  No one needs permission to repeat, take and use anything God has already given.  My writings are for anyone to copy, use and reuse as they see fit.  When we give something back to God, it's no longer ours.  Whether that be our hands, eyes, ears and mouth or that which is produced by God through us, all that we are is his.  His newness isn't new.  He wants to show us his glory in all ways.  We have the choice to choose to discovery by being alive in Him or dead in the world.  One is new and the other isn't.  It's always your choice.