What does it mean to have all things new?  Dr. Craig Koester, New Testament professor at Luther Seminary points out in his consideration of this text that “…God’s future includes the resurrection of the dead but does not stop there. When death is vanquished creation itself is made new.”   Furthermore, he points out, God’s future is pictured as a city with a garden at its center. The human world and natural world are reconciled here.

The human world and natural world are reconciled here. The tree of life stands within the city with its gates of pearl. These pearly gates are not guarded by Saint Peter as in the popular imagination, Dr. Koester cautions,   Rather, the gates stand open all the time in order to invite people into the presence of God.

The primary questions which arise from such a vision, it would seem, is how does such a vision of the future shape our lives here and now?   What changes would you like to make, to have God make, in your life to make all things new?