From the Ministry team

‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Appropriate words, I think, to reflect on at the start of a New Year. They come from the penultimate chapter of the last book of the Bible, Revelation.

The book begins with the words ‘The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw – that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.’

‘Behold, I am making all things new’ comes from an encouraging passage looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, when John hears a voice saying ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.’ Then there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. And the voice is heard to say ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.’ Those who put their trust in what Jesus achieved by his death on the Cross can look forward to this.

I don’t know how well you know the Bible, but in my experience there is always more to learn and to encourage us. And I am therefore looking forward to the Bible Society’s ‘The Bible Course’ which will be running for 8 weeks on Tuesday evenings from 13th January in Earl Stonham Village Hall. If you would like to join us, please let us know.

In any event, may I wish you a Happy New Year.

Henry Stanford

Reader