WE ARE NEARING THE END OF ANOTHER YEAR. EACH ONE OF US IS ANOTHER YEAR OLDER. NOT ONLY ARE WE AGING BUT THIS EARTH IS TOO. GOD SAID THROUGH HIS PROPHET ISAIAH, “THE EARTH WILL WEAR OUT LIKE A GARMENT, AND ITS INHABITANTS WILL DIE IN LIKE MANNER, BUT MY SALVATION SHALL BE FOREVER.” Isaiah 51:6
THERE IS A SADNESS ABOUT LEAVING THE OLD YEAR BEHIND, BUT EXCITEMENT AND HOPE IN WELCOMING IN THE NEW YEAR. THERE IS RENEWAL OF LIFE BECAUSE OF GOD’S PROMISE, “MY SALVATION SHALL BE FOREVER.”
WE HAVE JUST FINISHED CELEBRATING THE ENTRANCE OF GOD’S SALVATION INTO OUR WORLD, A TRUE HUMAN BEING FILLED WITH ALL THE FULNESS OF GOD.
IN THE CROSS, GOD’S ETERNAL LOVE FACED ALL THAT OUR SIN COULD DO, AND BY THE POWER OF AN INDESTRUCTIBLE LIFE OUR LIVING SALVATION, JESUS, REALIZED RESURRECTION OF HUMAN LIFE OUT OF SIN AND DEATH.
WITH GOOD INTENTIONS, WE MAKE NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS. MOST OF THEM END UP IN FAILURE. THE DESIRE IS RIGHT AND GOOD, BUT TRYING TO CHANGE THE OLD CAN NEVER WORK.
JESUS TOLD US THAT YOU CAN’T PUT NEW WINE INTO OLD WINESKINS. ONLY NEW WINESKINS CAN HOLD THE NEW WINE. “BEHOLD I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW,” IS HIS WORD TO US.
TIME PRESSES ON. THE OLD YEAR CANNOT BE RECOVERED. THE NEW YEAR IS UPON US. AS THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC SAYS, “OUR GOD IS MARCHING ON.”
THE GOSPEL PROCLAIMED BY JESUS IS, “REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND.” IN JESUS, THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS ENTERED HUMANITY.
BY RECEIVING HIM, WE DON’T NEED NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS. “IF ANY MAN IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE, THE OLD THINGS PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, NEW THINGS HAVE COME.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 IF WE SEEK THE NEW, THE OLD WILL FALL INTO PLACE.
I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES IT IS PRETTY HARD TO SEE ALL THIS. THE NEW GETS ALL MIXED UP AND COVERED OVER WITH THE OLD; BUT IT IS THERE WANTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND BECOME.
THE NEW BIRTH IN CHRIST IS NOT JUST A FIGURE OF SPEACH. IT IS AS REAL AS PHYSICAL BIRTH. JESUS RECOGNIZED THE MYSTERY OF IT. THE WIND BLOWS WHERE IT WILLS. YOU HEAR THE SOUND OF IT BUT KNOW NOT WHERE IT HAS COME FROM OR WHERE IT IS GOING. SO IT IS OF EVERY ONE BORN OF THE SPIRIT, SAID JESUS. John 3:8 IT IS AN ORGANIC REALITY.
AS WE WILL SOON WELCOME IN THE NEW YEAR, MAY WE REALIZE WITH GREATER FULLNESS THE WORDS FROM ONE OF OUR CHRISTMAS CAROLS. “HOW SILENTLY, HOW SILENTLY, THE WONDROUS GIFT IS GIVEN! SO GOD IMPARTS TO HUMAN HEARTS THE BLESSINGS OF HIS HEAVEN. NO EAR MAY HEAR HIS COMING, BUT IN THIS WORLD OF SIN, WHERE MEEK SOULS WILL RECEIVE HIM STILL, THE DEAR CHRIST ENTERS IN.”
Rosemary E Hyslop December 25, 2014