Revelation 21:5 “And he who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." Also, he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” (NRSV)

In Revelation, we find that through Jesus, God is “making all things new.” We find this hope again and again as we follow Jesus’ ways to live into the new world he ushered in and is creating through his life, death, and resurrection. It is not our job to make all things new. Rather, as we follow Jesus to the ends of the earth, living out and teaching his love, peace, and the Way of Christ, Christ works through his church to bring his Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus, we find a unity and a freedom that draws us to our ultimate hope. Praise God, the Lord is making all things new!

God’s peace and restoration of the world—God’s shalom—takes a paramount place in Scripture, particularly for God’s people in the Old Testament. The broader vision of shalom, however, is difficult to describe in the English language, not to mention from a Western mindset. Peace, in and of itself, falls short of God’s shalom, which also signifies total unity and freedom, complete restoration, and hope for the salvation of the world. But, for now, let us at least start with peace and Jesus calling for peacemakers in the Sermon on the Mount. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God," (Matthew 5:9).

Even as I hope in Jesus, it is with a heaviness of heart that I write the opening notes for the first NCM Magazine of 2024. War and destruction, insecurity, and violence have become far too normalized in our world. Ukraine, Gaza, Haiti, and multiple nations throughout Africa, as well as each of our own neighborhoods and streets, are plagued with the destruction that violence causes.

The need for peacemakers is critical in our world, and what’s more, this is precisely how Jesus brought us Good News! The seeds of the Gospel are sown by those who live by faith in Jesus. In the following pages, you will see how faith is leading Christians to bring change in their communities through the power of Jesus. As followers of Christ, we are called to share our hope wherever we go. May we be agents of peace in our world.

For many Christians across the globe, however, it is difficult to share faith. Barriers of language, fear, control, and persecution are a part of everyday life. Additionally, danger and risk, imminent threats of violence from warring groups, and the potential for loss of life are far too real.

These threats were real for Jesus and his followers as well. Even still, like the Apostle Paul, our pastors and leaders cry out, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, ‘The one who is righteous will live by faith.’” (Romans 1:16-17).

We, too, put ourselves in the footsteps of Paul and recognize that he is writing to all of us who may be afraid but called to share the hope we have and trust in the power of the Gospel. Paul writes that the power of God for salvation is for everyone, including Jews and Gentiles, equally. We also understand that in our present age, everyone includes all the people of the world.

There are no limits to where God desires to share the ultimate hope shown in Christ's love for the world. As followers of Jesus, we must sow the seeds of peace that are Good News.

God is making all things new. We are invited to turn and join God’s plans for restoration.

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Adapted from the latest NCM Magazine. Click here to read the issue.