In the New Age
In the 1970’s the “New Age” movement became popular. It is defined as “a range of spiritual and religious practices and beliefs which rapidly grew in Western society during the early 1970’s.” Adherents avoid the term “religious” and prefer to identify them as “spiritual.” Some see the rise of this movement as a reaction to the overly technological preoccupation of this world. It rests on the belief that man can attain spiritual fulfillment on his own, and so enter into a “new age” of existence by practicing “New Age” methods.
This and similar movements point to the fact that humans know something is seriously missing in human life as we know it. Forming new religions is a way of trying to escape the limitations of “this age” and moving on to a “higher level” of life. It is a way of trying to reach God, without God and without doing it his way.
Jesus talked to his disciples about the “new age.” (Matthew 19:23-30).
“Amen, I say to you it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven.”
The rich are so tied to the things of “this age” that they are unable to let them go and move into the “new age” that Jesus talked about when he preached the Kingdom of heaven.
“When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, ‘Who then can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
Human beings cannot save themselves. On their own they cannot enter the “new age.” With God’s help, however, it is possible. Thus, Jesus explained the fundamental limits of man-made religion.
“Then Peter said to him in reply, ‘We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones…”
By giving up everything, the disciples had detached from the present age and became ready to receive the “new age” that Jesus talked about. By following Jesus, they would be led into what Jesus called the Kingdom of heaven. When would this take place? When Jesus returns to his Father and sits upon his throne of glory. That took place when he ascended into heaven.
Doesn’t this mean, then, that the “new age” is now? For Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father right now. That means the “new age” is here, for those who will repent, surrender to Jesus, and receive the Holy Spirit. The real “new age” is not so much a chronological time in history as it is a rebirth into new life that Jesus promised.
We wonder if Jesus is equating the “new age” with heaven. The “new age” that Jesus refers to starts now upon this earth for his disciples, and it has amazing benefits even now.
“And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life.”
Do we believe Jesus? Do we believe that turning our lives over to him will bring us a hundred times more than the richest people of the world have, and eternal life besides?
