“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
People often use this to manipulate people into believing some newfangled fad or trend in the church, but even a casual reading of this passage in context will show the believer that this Scripture is pointing to Israel's deliverance from Babylon, and more importantly, speaking prophetically to the coming of Christ and his sacrificial offering to redeem us from sin. This passage in no way endorses the way out and wacky stuff people have introduced into the church and said, "See, God is doing a 'new thing'".
Be wise people. Know the Word of God so that you will not be swayed by every wind of doctrine or fad that creeps into the church. Remember that the same Bible gives us a very clear directive, found in Jeremiah 6:16; "This is what the LORD says: "Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, 'No, that's not the road we want!'"
That last sentence is so many people today. Always restless; always bored and looking for something new, rather than becoming established in the ways of the Lord. If we would be brutally honest, there is nothing more for God to do. Yes, signs and wonders will follow... but remember, signs and wonders are for the unbeliever so that he may come to know Christ, not for the believers to chase after the latest trends. There are a lot of flakes out there, always convincing the weak, gullible and unstable that this is the latest, greatest 'new thing' happening in the Kingdom of God. I don't have to say it; the Word of God says it for me in the book of James. A person chasing after the "new thing" all the time is a person of wavering faith, driven like a wave in the ocean by every new wind that comes their way and unstable in all their ways. Those who chase after the fads are like the guy pictured above looking for a new thrill and sooner or later, they are going to get bitten or devoured. I've watch many friends over the years who chased the fads have their faith in God shaken or destroyed and they turned their backs on God feeling like God had failed them. But God never failed anyone. The problem is they strayed from the old paths, looking for a "new thing" because they never understood that passage of scripture and were swayed by the latest showboat preacher or trend rather than walking in the confidence that Jesus paid it all.
It's time to set down roots and find contentment in the ways of the Lord rather than looking for a new thrill or dog and pony show. I believe that such people are those that will stand on that day of judgment say, "but Lord, didn't I..." and Jesus will say, "depart from me you worker of iniquity. I never knew you."
He who has ear to hear, let him hear!
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