New Heaven & New Earth-Revelation 21:1-6

I get a bit of a chuckle when I see an established business having a Grand Re-Opening ceremony or better yet, they go out with all glory and have another Grand Opening. Being a former marketing manager, I get a thrill seeing someone trying to rebrand something old into something new and improved with very little actual replacement of the old with the new. I wonder, how can a Grand Opening banner and some colorful balloons have the power of making something new?  In order for something to be new, the old needs to be replaced. Our scripture from Revelation brings this to light by making it clear that in order for a new heaven and a new earth to take place, the first (old) earth must pass away.  We see this displayed every year with the change of seasons from the absence of new life in winter to the budding rebirth and colorful brilliance of bloom in the spring. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ makes all things new for us, for that’s what Easter brings. We are in the fifth week of the Eastertide and we are reminded not to revert back to the past. Have the confidence to know that God is with us and has made our hearts anew.