First, let me open by saying this will be a longer review. If you want a sound bite review, the shorter version would be that this book offers an intelligent, thoughtful, keen view on the work that Jesus did and is continuing to do. It will challenge your preconceptions in a good way as well as how those have shaped the way you see the world and how you engage in it. It also offers tremendous hope; a thing I think this world needs some more of. I highly recommend this to anyone in the church.

To continue to my longer review, let me start by saying I am a fan of the writings of John Eldredge. I have read most of his books and have attended the Wild at Heart Bootcamp. I will attempt to be earnest and honest in my assessment of All Things New, but be aware that I may be in his target demographic. [Amendment - John is just a man. Not everything he says may be 100% accurate and may not resonate with everyone - I use the approach of discerning this by asking Jesus what is meant for me and what isn't - a method I would implore any reader to take]

This book had me take a hard look at what I have believed about Jesus work at my core. I have fallen into the trap of a distorted view of what Jesus really came to do at times. When Eldredge points out how the ills of the world and society have crept in and distorted the message, that resonates. I believed for most of my life that heaven was a separate, ethereal worship service in the sky like many of his readers. And frankly, that wasnt necessarily a place I wanted to spend eternity if I am honest.

The picture of the renewing and restoration of all things was not new to me, per se, but it hadnt been taught to me in this way. The hope that all wrongs will be righted, all potential will be realized, and the beauty of Gods creation will be as He intended it was for the most part some vague idea. Eldredge puts it into natural world context. The mountains you love will be perfect, the cities will be perfect, the flora and fauna as they once wereperfect. Gone are the worries, anxieties, and doubts of what others think of you, of how you fit in. We all work together in harmony, not against one another. The creativity will be pure, the adventure will be free of risk, fun and joy as they were meant to be. We will do and be what we were always meant to. This is truly a remarkable thought and breath-taking.

For those worried about this picture of a new earth, Eldredge wastes no time in going to the source: what does scripture actually say and what did Jesus himself say? He also weaves in thoughts from several scholars including many renowned biblical and theological ones (Wright, Lewis, Chesterton, Pascale, MacDonald, Willard just to name a few). There is also a great deal of scientific data to back up the picture scripture paints about how the earth has fallen and needs restoration.

All in all, I found myself weeping at times from either joy or sadness. I also found myself smiling at the thought of everything that is dear to me being restored. The idea of sitting around a campfire in the new earth and telling stories and laughing into the night with no limits, holding my dearest friends and family close, and feeling as though this will never end brought sheer joy to me. I have a renewed sense of hope. This is all building towards Jesus coming to make all things new. There is a divine reason that is not vague and fully unknown he will make us and this place what it was always meant to be.

During the reading of this book, we had just encountered the race riots in Charlottesville, seen Hurricane Harvey devastate parts of Texas and Louisiana, experienced wildfires throughout Montana and other parts of the northwest and Hurricane Irma is barreling down. On a lesser, but more personal level, I've been feeling stuck in a job I don't like because I can't get out from under a mortgage. So, to read a book completely dedicated to hope was very poignant for the times. As John stated in the prologue - if everything is going great for you right now and you expect it to always stay that way, this book probably isn't for you. But for the vast majority of us, this book is an essential read. Paul states in the last verse of chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians that three things remain - faith, hope and love. The focus of that chapter is love, and so we tend to neglect the other 2, particularly hope. In typical John Eldredge fashion, using scripture, personal experiences and tales that we hold deep in our hearts, he unfolds the coming glory of the Kingdom after Jesus's return. Though I've been familiar with the passages quoted, common perceptions of Armageddon have shaped my expectation for the future. This book has brought back to light the truth that is painted in the scripture about the renewal of all things. How I long for things I have lost to be restored in the coming days. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is feeling overwhelmed by current or personal events or feeling discouraged and disheartened by where your life is now. I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

John Eldredge has written a book that is both necessary and beautiful.

I have thought for many years that the by-and-by, harps and singing, clouds-and-wings images of eternal life were boring, tasteless, and obviously false. John has done the hard work of bringing the reality of our eternal home into sharp, clear, and Scriptural focus.

It's good to know that nothing is lost. It's good to know that eternity will not be beyond my wildest dreams; it will, instead, fulfill all of the best of my dreams, and many I didn't know I had.

This book was amazing. It puts a whole new light on eternity. I am very eager to experience this new world! It will be awesome.

We sure could use some hope. This is a wonderful book, so well written by John Eldridge. Would highly recommend it to everyone.