If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

— 2 Corinthians 5:17

God loves, reasons, and creates. So do his children, made in his image and likeness. But instead of honoring the good, doing the right, and creating the lovely, we fell into sin (Genesis 3). As a result, we despise, pervert, and destroy our world and our relationships. Though we are still able to do some good (by the grace of God), it is painfully obvious that we do not live up to our created potential. We willfully do wrong, hurt others, and destroy.

It is hard to imagine the disappointment and heartbreak God must have felt when we first turned against him. God might well have destroyed humanity and started over. And in a way he did make a new start. God sent his Son, Jesus, to bear his image without falling into sin; Jesus was fully human, like us in every way (see John 1:14; 3:16-18; Hebrews 2:17; 4:15). He loves and thinks and creates as a human made in God’s image should. He hit the restart button on human nature.

The miracle of salvation through Jesus is that we can become part of the new creation and the new world he creates. We can become part of God’s family again. With the new life he makes possible for us, Jesus saves!

Dear Jesus, thank you for being the first responder for all of creation. You have given us a new start. Help us to live faithfully in your name. Amen.