God’s Grace and the Law of Aging

Revelation 21:5  Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

Last week the air-conditioning unit in our home gave up its last breath, its last puff of cool air.  We knew that it was old and struggling but were trying to squeeze the most we could from it: maybe one more season. But finally age and wearing won out.  I guess, in technical terms, it fell prey to the second law of thermodynamics which explains that everything will run down, age, or decay over time whether it be machinery, mankind or the universe itself.  Yes, everything will die in its time, everything.   No amount of repairing, or patching, or beauty creams, or facial tucks will reverse this certainty.

This is simply a part of God’s curse against sin which affected all of His creation and created order.   Ultimately God created all things to exist forever.  He Himself said after each day of His creation, “It is good.”  Yet, man’s rebellion against God set into motion not only God’s penalty against man’s sin: “death” as He had warned; but creation itself was touched and began to groan due to its certain demise.  This law of aging and downgrade entered into creation after the fall cannot be reversed by any of man’s best plans or efforts.  This law of aging and decay also stands in total opposition to evolution, man’s attempt to remove the reality of God from His own creative order.  But try as they may, man cannot stop the second law of thermodynamics, nor can they explain God away apart from utter denial of the obvious and blatant hypocrisy.

Now back to my air conditioning unit.  First, I realized how spoiled I have become.  None of the good ole days for me laboring through steamy, sleepless nights soaked in sweat wishfully hoping for a puff of breeze through the window.  I want cool air.   Also, I didn’t want to patch an old system which I knew was soon to die again.  I chose to purchase a new unit and willing to pray the price, while knowing even my new unit will immediately begin the process of aging.

And finally back to the law of aging.  The only One Who can redeem creation from the curse and reverse the law of aging is the Creator Himself, yet this came with a great price.  By His grace God gave His only Son to receive upon Himself the penalty of man’s sin: death.  He alone overcame the penalty and was resurrected to newness of life.  One day He will return and make “all things new” while destroying death and the curse.  This is called “the regeneration.” 

Jesus is not in the business of “repairing.”  He is in the business of “regenerating,” making things new.  He has promised a new heaven and a new earth and a new body to all who believe.  Death will be abolished, the curse will be broken, and the law of aging will be wiped away.  In the regeneration He will complete what He purposed in creation. No more aging bodies and no more aging air conditioners.  Hallelujah!

To God be the glory.