NEW BEGINNINGS PART 2
 
This is part 2 of New Beginnings which just really helped me because this is the section that applies to our lives as Christians.You really have to look close but sure enough it is there. I'm sure you will be blessed by this model as I really delve into the story of Noah and how it relates to us. If you missed part one and desire to get some background you can click onto this link if you would like.
 
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/may2006/bobd517.htm
 
In Exodus 20 in the 10 commandments the very first commandment is to worship God and God alone. This implies that we have to worship something or somebody, but did you know that you also have to watch for something or somebody.The Apostle Paul even encourages born again believers to watch for the Blessed Hope which is the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ in Titus 2:10. He also says in 1st Thes. 4:18 that this will give us comfort. So the basic question in this article is what are you watching for?
 
It is very interesting to me that Noah sent a dove out three times. Three is the number that makes something or somebody complete because that is the consistent meaning throughout scripture. God desires our watching to be complete in Him. It is also very interesting that God did not speak to Noah in the watching process for dry land when He was still in the Ark. God spoke to him before the Flood about  the 120 years but now a dove is used to symbolize the watching process. Remember a dove from heaven rested on Jesus' shoulders when He was being baptized so it has to be pretty clear that according to Matthew 3:16,Mark 1:10,and Luke 3:22, that the Dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit. We as Christians need the Holy Spirit to watch.We can't do this on our own,but the real question is for what? We as Christians are to be pursuing anything that has a new beginning in Jesus Christ. When we accepted Jesus Christ into our hearts we became born again or another way to phrase our new birth experience is God regenerated us through his Son Jesus Christ. Sometimes the ungodly are referred to as unregenerate. When we accepted the Lord into our hearts the Bible says in 2nd Cor.5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ,he is a new creature: old things are passed away: behold,all things are become new." This already happened at Salvation; however, God throws a couple of conditional promises in the Bible. As believers in Jesus Christ we can look for certain specific "New Beginning" experiences in Jesus Christ. For example Paul said in Eph 5:2 that we are to love as God loves us.So this is a "New Beginning"that we are to pursue with other people in Jesus Christ. Many examples. Another would be Eph 5:8. It says "were in darkness and now are ye the light in the Lord." Walk as children of Light. Because of  this new beginning that we already received at salvation we are  to look for  "New beginnings" in Jesus Christ. That verse told believers to walk in the light. The Bible says we are to look for the "New beginnings in Jesus Christ" as to giving Him thanks in Eph.5:20. Going back two verses the Bible gives the believer a conditional promise to be filled with the Holy Spirit.As believers we have the Holy Spirit on the inside of us;however,we must ask God to be filled with the Holy Spirit according to verse 18. This is just another example of a "New Beginning" that we are to pursue in Jesus Christ." In James 4:8 the Bible actually tells us to draw near to God,and He will draw near to us. If we don't pursue this "New Beginning" of drawing near to God,the Bible implies in this verse that Our Savior will not draw near to us because He will obviously respect our will. Suffering would be another example because it is a gift from God to ultimately shape and mold us into a new beginning of something bigger. Perhaps I left the best pursuit of a "new beginning" for my last example. Looking for that blessed hope,and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13. This verse is talking about our Blessed Hope which is the rapture of the Church. There are a handful of believers watching for the "new beginning" of this future event that I personally believe is just right around the corner. We are so close that it could happen any moment in my opinion.Let me give you another example. If we worry we are concerned about  pursuing  a 'bad beginning." God has called His children to "New Beginnings"in His Son Jesus Christ.
 
I would just like to share something with you as to what we are going to be doing in eternity. The Bible says in Eph.2:7 "that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His Kindness toward us through Jesus Christ. "This is going to be taking place throughout the annals of eternity. This verse clearly says we will be learning in heaven. God is going to be showing us something "new" regarding the riches of His grace and it will never grow "old." If it did we will just sort of die down but that will never happen because although God never changes( Heb.13:8) there is always something new to look at in "the exceeding riches of His grace in His Kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
 
Let me ask you a question. Isn't it refreshing when somebody approaches you in a "new" way? If somebody came up to you and took a sincere interest in who you are isn't that "new" rather than "old." It would have been nice if I knew these principles as a young believer but attaining it when your older isn't the worst thing because we tend to appreciate the principle and practice more because now we know not to take it for granted. If you have not been applying this principle in your walk with Jesus Christ, if you were to pray a prayer for God to help you I know He would because that is the kind of God we serve. This is His principle for His glory. If you are not a true believer in Jesus Christ I hear this all the time. If I accept Jesus Christ into my heart I will have to get rid of this and that. I believe there is an internal Gospel in everyone and they understand that God will chip away bad things in their lives once a true decision is made for Jesus Christ into their hearts. Think about this-if it is bad why wouldn't you desire that bad to be replaced with something good, Jesus Christ is a Good God that not only desires to give one salvation but He wants His children to be pursuing "New Beginnings" in Him. One thing I found out not only through the Bible but in my own life-we can never go wrong with Jesus Christ. If you have not pursued a new beginning in Jesus Christ it is the wise decision to make not only for your life but for all eternity. If you are a Christian pursue "New Beginnings" in Jesus Christ and allow God to take you on a journey of precious eternal truths in the Word.
 
Bob D.