AN EVERLASTING COVENANT (EZEKIEL 37:26-28)

Reflection: An Everlasting Covenant The theme for our reflection is An Everlasting Covenant. In the Holy Scriptures, a covenant is far more than a mere legal contract; it is a sacred, binding agreement between two parties—most significantly between God and humanity. This divine treaty establishes a relationship rooted in mutual promises, specific conditions, and eternal…

Jean-Paul Agidi

Dec 18, 2025

5–7 minutes

Reflection: An Everlasting Covenant

The theme for our reflection is An Everlasting Covenant. In the Holy Scriptures, a covenant is far more than a mere legal contract; it is a sacred, binding agreement between two parties—most significantly between God and humanity. This divine treaty establishes a relationship rooted in mutual promises, specific conditions, and eternal consequences, forming the very backbone of God’s redemptive plan for the world. An everlasting covenant is the eternal relationship established by the Creator, wherein He promises to be our Deliverer from the shackles of sin and the sting of eternal death. This promise is secured by our obedience and unwavering belief in His Son, Jesus Christ, who was offered as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb of this eternal bond. Ezekiel 37:26-28 concludes the powerful vision of the dry bones, revealing God’s intent to breathe life into the weary, reunite the divided, and establish a covenant of peace. By placing His sanctuary among His people forever, God symbolises a total spiritual restoration and an enduring presence—a national and global revival sparked by His Spirit, foreshadowing the Messiah and a peace that surpasses understanding. We must reflect on this profound truth: in this new and everlasting covenant, God’s divine presence will never depart from those who enter into this relationship with Him.

Beloved in the Lord, it is vital to recognise that while God chose Israel as the vessel through whom the Messiah would enter the world, the everlasting covenant was never intended for one nation alone. It is a universal invitation to anyone, regardless of nationality, who longs for the enduring presence of the Living God. The Lord assured His people, “I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I, the LORD, make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever” (Ezekiel 37:26-28). This glorious promise found its ultimate fulfilment in the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. When the angels broke the silence of the night to the shepherds, they announced the arrival of this Covenant-Keeper: “Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests” (Luke 2:11-14). Furthermore, the writer of Hebrews confirms Jesus as the seal of this bond, stating, “Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).

Jesus Christ is the living fulfilment of God’s sanctuary. Today, we continue to experience His holy presence through the Body of Christ—the Church—under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We live in the tension of a promise already kept and a glory yet to come, as Jesus promised to return and take us to the New Jerusalem. The seasons of Advent and Christmas are not merely historical commemorations; they are celebrations of the Everlasting Covenant in action. They remind us that Jesus will return to usher those who have dwelt in His earthly sanctuary into His eternal home. This inheritance is not a matter of biological lineage, but of spiritual rebirth. As the Scripture says, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:14-17). Dear friend, this covenant is active and operational today! To claim your place within it, you are called to repent and confess Jesus as your only Lord and Saviour. We must heed the exhortation of Paul: “I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).

Beloved, if we cling to these promises and remain faithful to the end, we shall witness the final, glorious consummation of the eternal covenant. This future was revealed to John in his vision: “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:2-4).

Summary

The reflection centres on the nature of God’s Everlasting Covenant—a sacred, eternal bond of peace and restoration. Originally promised to Israel but fulfilled for all humanity through Jesus Christ, this covenant transforms us from “dry bones” into living sanctuaries of the Holy Spirit. It emphasises that being part of God’s family is not about nationality, but about faith, repentance, and obedience. We are encouraged to live as “living sacrifices,” looking forward to the ultimate fulfilment of this covenant in the New Jerusalem, where God will dwell with His people forever, wiping away every tear.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of Your Everlasting Covenant, sealed by the precious blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for not leaving us in our brokenness, but for choosing to make Your dwelling place within our hearts. Grant us the grace to remain faithful to this sacred bond, to resist the patterns of this world, and to live as holy sacrifices pleasing to You. May Your presence be our constant peace, and may we look forward with joy to the day You wipe every tear from our eyes in Your eternal kingdom. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.