As we step into a new year, it is fitting to reflect on the One whom Daniel described as the “Ancient of Days”—God enthroned in eternity yet intimately involved in the unfolding of time and history (Daniel 7:9, 13, 22). This title captures the paradox of divine eternity intersecting with temporal reality. God, though outside of time, authored time itself, creating all things within a framework of days—each with a morning and evening which were a beginning and an ending. Daniel’s vision affirms God’s authority to judge the nations, for only God has witnessed every epoch of human existence. More than a passive observer, God has actively shaped history from the creation of the heavens and the earth, guiding humanity with mercy and grace. The sending of the Son, Jesus Christ, for the reconciliation of sinful humanity marks the ultimate new beginning—a new birth that inaugurates eternal life.
From the moment God declared, “Let there be light,” He established Himself as the Author of new beginnings. Before this creative act, neither light nor anything resembling it existed. The universe itself became brand new and perfect being pronounced “very good” by its Creator. Though sin corrupted this perfection, God’s character remains unchanged—He does not merely refurbish; He creates anew. Whether in the physical or spiritual realm, God’s work is always a new creation, not a makeover.
Contrary to some religious teachings, Scripture affirms that each soul begins at conception; there is no pre-existence. Every person is a unique creation, not a spiritual extension of God. Genesis records that when God breathed life into the first human, “man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7)—a distinct beginning. The psalmist marvels, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made…I was made in secret…And in thy book all my members were written… when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:14-16). God’s plan for each person precedes their existence, but their being commences only when God makes the plan a reality. Every birth is a new beginning, a testament to God’s ongoing creative work.
Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus underscores the necessity of being “born again” (John 3:3), a concept that initially confounded Nicodemus, who understood birth only in physical terms. Jesus clarified His statement about a spiritual rebirth—a new beginning. Through Ezekiel, God promised to give Israel “a new heart” and “a new spirit” (Ezekiel 36:26), not a reformation of the old but something entirely new. Paul echoes this in declaring that those in Christ are “a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This new birth is a newly created nature, founded on the righteousness and holiness of Christ (Ephesians 4:24), and is innately divine (2 Peter 1:4). The believer is empowered and expected to live out this new life now (Romans 6:4; Ephesians 2:10).
One of Scripture’s most comforting truths is that God’s grace and mercy are “new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23). This daily renewal offers profound hope—regardless of yesterday’s failures, today brings fresh mercy. These mercies are “new” not because they never existed, but because they are refreshed each day, tailored to the needs of the moment. Just as manna appeared daily in the wilderness, God’s grace is replenished for each new day. Tomorrow’s needs will be met by the God who continually makes all things new.
God’s purpose has always been to display His glory through creation. Though sin disrupted this purpose, it did not defeat it. God remains committed to reclaiming and reconciling what was lost, culminating it by the work of Christ on Calvary. The ultimate victory will be realized when God eradicates all evil and “creates new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:17). This act of creation is ex nihilo—making from nothing. God’s final declaration, “I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5), guarantees total restoration to perfection. After purging all that sin has tainted, God will fashion a new and perfect universe, both heavens and earth.
Newness signifies change and hope. Each year, people seek improvement and growth, often through resolutions that ultimately fail because they are rooted in self-effort. Real hope and capacity for change are found only in the new life given through Jesus Christ. The believer, as a new creation, possesses a renewed hope and the ability to witness God’s ongoing work. In God, all things—past, present, and future—are new, for He, thought the Ancient of Days, is the God of new beginnings.