This month, we’re excited to release the first of many excerpts from Dylan DeMarsico’s upcoming book “A New World.”

On December 7th, 1972, the Apollo 17 crew of NASA took the first ever photograph of our planet in its entirety. This image came to be known as “the blue marble” because, from the perspective of the astronauts, the earth looked like a little blue marble floating through space.

This little marble is our home and it’s been floating like this for a very long time.

As this marble has traveled through space, living things have been growing on it. Some of these living things include you and me, and all the men and women who’ve inhabited the world for ages. Throughout our time here, this world has become a place of great love, joy, and peace. Human beings have been sharing life together: making babies, celebrating birthdays, creating things, being kind and generous to one another, laughing, playing.

But there’s another side to this. This little blue marble has been a painful place too. Really painful. Wars, violence, deception, greed, abuse, and murder have been taking place on this planet for as long as it’s existed. People have abused their power and deeply hurt themselves and others. The question begs to be asked, “Where is God in all of this?” “Does He care about this world?”

To try and find an answer, let’s take a look at an ancient and mysterious vision the apostle John had. In this vision he saw God, the Father of the universe, sitting on a throne (Revelation 4:2). As he watched the Father on His majestic throne, he heard Him speak. His voice has been described as the sound of many waters (Ezekiel 43:2). So, like the rush from a big flood, John heard God say this:

 “Behold, I am making all things new”

(Revelation 21:5) 

All. Things. New.

John had a revelation of just how much God the Father cares about this world. He has the little blue marble on His mind, all the time. This One who is seated on the throne declares that He is making all things new. This is His response to all the pain and abuse; all the racism, greed, and evil. The Father of the universe is going to take care of all things. He will personally attend to every little issue.

But John saw more in his vision. He kept looking. He saw God, the Father, wiping away “every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4). He reached down to dry the eyes of every young boy and girl who’d ever been hurt. He wiped the tears off every woman who felt alone. He comforted every man who lived a lifetime of guilt and regret. He saw the blue marble’s suffering and He had compassion.

The sins that have occurred on this little spinning marble are not the end of the story. We aren’t orphans. We have a Father who created us, who wants to turn all our sins into an opportunity for healing. The blue marble is our home and it will be made beautiful again.

Cheer up buttercup, a New World is on the way… And a New World is here to stay… 

A New World

When little baby Jesus was miraculously placed in the tummy of the virgin Mary, there was a wild plan unfolding. God the Father had some tricks up His sleeve. He was brimming over with good pleasure and excitement for what He was about to do (Ephesians 1:9-10). Baby Jesus was being born for a really big purpose. He was the chosen One through whom the world would be made new. 

The apostle Paul passionately believed in this New World. He discussed it in his second letter to the Corinthians. He wrote, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This shows us that when an individual repents and believes in Jesus, a person becomes new. A whole new way of life, according to the love and righteousness of Christ. Two verses later, Paul shows us that this is God’s plan for the whole world. 

He also writes, “In Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19). This was God’s plan. Ever since the beginning of time, the Father desired to reconcile the world back to Himself. Paul’s vision and John’s vision are one and the same – the Father wiping away tears and the restoring of people’s hearts. Through Christ, the world is becoming a new creation.

Little baby Jesus grew up and became an adult. He preached the gospel and healed the sick, revealing Himself as God’s Son. Under the Roman government He was crucified and killed. After three days, He came back to life and appeared to His followers. They touched His hands to make sure He was still real. They gave Him food to make sure He wasn’t a ghost. He proved that it was indeed Him. And at that time, at the resurrection of Jesus, the Father’s New World began. Little baby Jesus had grown up and fulfilled His Father’s plan, creating a totally new beginning. 

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). 

God loves this world. He’s been suffering over us since the beginning (Revelation 13:8). He has actually felt our pain and suffered with us. At the cross, the Father, Son, and Spirit completely took on the suffering of this world and started a New One through Jesus’s blood. This is His grand plan and we’re all invited. If you believe in Jesus, you are a part of God’s New World.