God Does Something New

God Does Something New

Isaiah 65:17-25  Psalm 98 Luke 21:5-19

Let’s be honest: some weeks, the headlines don’t look much like “new heavens and a new earth.” It seems same old, same old There’s war, anger, broken systems, and people struggling just to get through another day. And into that world — our world — God speaks through Isaiah:

For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind…
I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress.
No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old person who does not live out a lifetime (Isaiah 65.17, 19-20a).

In the wake of the Babylonian exile, God says something interesting about memory- you will not remember. God will do something greater. Even The miraculous exodus event will be surpassed by this new heaven and earth.1 This current pain, this time in exile, this mourning that is so all-consuming - won’teven be a memory.”

We know, but they didn’t, that God will launch this new creation by coming down to earth through his Son Jesus.

There are many things we spend our days trying not to think about from the past until they break into our lives and shatter us, God says they “shall not be remembered or come to mind” (65:17). I’m looking forward to this. Some days we can dwell too much on the mistakes we made, or the tragedies that overtook us.

N. T. Wright says that when Scripture talks about “a new heaven and a new earth,” it doesn’t mean God is scrapping the old one. “God intends to put the whole world right, and we are called to begin living as people through whom that new creation can happen.” — N. T. Wright, Surprised by Hope

Isaiah’s vision isn’t about escaping this world; it’s about transforming it. When you volunteer at a food pantry, plant a tree, write a note to a lonely neighbor — you’re participating in God’s new creation work right now. Heaven begins to take shape wherever compassion interrupts despair.

In today’s terms, Isaiah is talking about: Affordable housing that lasts. Meaningful work and fair wages. Safety for children and elders. A planet that’s cared for, not consumed.

Ask yourself: How and where can I be part of God’s healing project? At the Schuylkill Association meeting, a gathering of UCC pastors and lay people, we were asked to come up with a new mission for our church, beyond what we are already doing. I am asking for ideas, not just from the Board, but from you the congregation for ideas

Isaiah’s words were spoken to people who’d lost everything — their land, their temple, their certainty. Brueggemann reminds us that the prophets didn’t deny pain; they dared to imagine beyond it. He writes: The prophetic voice refuses despair because it knows God’s capacity for newness. — (The Prophetic Imagination}

I think of how this can relate to all of us. Can despair be lessened when we believe that God can do something new for us?  Isaiah invites us to see life differently: joy not in denial of suffering, but in defiance of it. That’s why he says, “Be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating.” When you help someone who is struggling to smile, you’re not ignoring pain — you’re declaring that pain won’t win. Joy is not the absence of grief; it’s the stubborn belief that God is still creating. And God knows we Pennsylvania Dutch or those with German heritage can be stubborn. Amen? Let’s put it to good use.

When Christ rose, God launched the new creation project.

Our calling? Live as resurrection people in a Good Friday world. That is a tough one.

If Isaiah were standing in our sanctuary, he might say:

“Church, you were never meant to sit around waiting for heaven. You were meant to join God in building it right here.”

There’s so much to be weary about, so much that feels tired and worn and played out and intractable. I know you feel that as I sometimes do. So this week, I encourage you to start by paying attention to where you need to be reminded of God’s ability to do a new thing.

Where do you need that deep-in-your-bones renewal? If not now, when did you need it? Who in your community needs it right now?

So let’s translate Isaiah’s dream into daily choices: Pray as if your words can heal someone’s heart. Work as if your effort contributes to God’s renewal. Give as if generosity is God’s favorite form of worship. Hope as if tomorrow depends on your faithfulness today. Pray, Work, Give, Hope – Almost sounds like a title of a book or movie.

And when the world feels heavy, take a deep breath and remember this:

God isn’t finished yet. And we — ordinary, sometimes weary, sometimes hopeful people — are the builders. So this week, wherever you go, carry this line from Isaiah in your heart
“Be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating.” Because God is still creating — in you, in this church, and in this our world. Amen