New Releases

New and Improved!

There are always exciting new things that seek our attention in the world. New movies premiere with great fanfare, some including special midnight showings or sneak previews. Books are released with signings and tours. New music albums are released to fans that have waited with long anticipation. Even video games have entered into the premiere scene, having release parties for the newest version of fan favorites.

Nothing New

Of course, this excitement over that which is new is not unique to the modern world, nor is it unique to any particular period of human history. For example, it explained by Luke that the Greeks in Athens would “…spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new” (Acts 17:22). One might wonder at the kind of anticipation these Athenians held at the rumor of a new teacher or approach to philosophy. If only Paul had scheduled a release party…

A Curious Contrast

In light of the modern focus upon media releases, it is interesting to contrast with another release party that happened in the 1940s. When it was announced that a new, more modern translation of the Bible would soon be published, there was a great excitement throughout the country. For the release of the Revised Standard Version, there were 3,418 separate community observances (release parties) with over 1.5 million people participating.

Fast forwarding back to the modern era, what kind of excitement would one expect for a release of a Bible translation today? Would people hold special observances celebrating that God’s Word was soon to be more readily available to people? Would people stand in lines for hours to receive a copy for themselves? Would people stand in those same lines to hear the Gospel? How many people wait in barely controlled anticipation of the revealing of heaven?

What Do We Look Forward To?

The reality is that there will always be new and interesting things to capture our attention on this temporal plane. While these things may be entertaining for a time, they should never hold our focus. The new movie, book, album, game, gadget, etc. should never be more exiting to us than the thought of one day seeing something truly new – the New Heavens and New Earth. For the Christian, God has promised that this is truly coming soon.