Something Completely New

“‘Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I will help you,’ says the Lord and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. ‘Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, and make the hills like chaff.’” Isa. 41:14-15.

From a lowly worm to a sharp new threshing sledge! Without a doubt, this is something completely new—an incredible transformation. Faith in the power of God results in miracles within us. Abraham was strengthened in faith because he gave glory to God. He didn’t place his confidence in himself or his own strength. He believed that God was mighty, and was able to fulfill the promise He had given him. The promises for us are the greatest and most precious—divine nature. 2 Pet. 1:3-4. This is something completely new that has never existed in our lives before. New thoughts, new, pure motives, rejoicing over the progress of others and receiving grace over their lives. We would have to agree that this is something completely new.

It is a hunger and longing for the life of Jesus that drives us forward. It is very easy to become a bit rich and satisfied “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Jas. 1:5. This is a tremendous comfort and a tremendous hope! This concerns everything we are lacking. We can pray that God will supply all our need. Phil. 4:19. But if we’re rich and satisfied, then we won’t have very much to ask for. We must not be lagging in our diligence and zeal—but fervent in our spirit, and then, and only then, can we be transformed.

“Men of high degree are a lie; if they are weighed on the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapor.” Ps. 62:9. Think that God has chosen us for salvation, which is transformation, and that He truly can do a miracle within us.

He will do something completely new. Selfishness and self-love can be threshed and crushed and become like chaff. This will be completely destroyed in our lives. It is threshed and crushed by the acknowledgment of my own sin and folly. This fulfills what is written in Rom. 16:20. “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.” This is a work of God—something completely new.

“Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isa. 43:19. This is the hope of salvation, a completely new life. When we are raised out of the water after baptism, it is so we can walk in newness of life. Rom. 6:4. What was old is gone, behold everything has become new. This must be living for us in our hearts. Nothing happens randomly or by chance. Everything is according to God’s plan of salvation for us. We must learn to bow ourselves under the mighty hand of God—the God of miracles.

None of us know what we need for this salvation. It is only God, the captain of our salvation, who knows. We must not oppose how God works with us in our lives. That would be pride and great folly.