Happy New Year!
A little more than twenty years ago everyone was sure the world was coming to an end. The Y2K conspiracy was in full affect. We were going back to the dark ages for certain. Then the clock rolled over and everyone discovered that the world was gonna keep on kicking and time would keep on ticking. Since then we have had many dramatic moments as a human race, but New Years hasn't really been one of them.
And so, 20 yrs later, I am thankful to welcome 2020 to into my life. A year when the worst thing that could happen at this point is that President Trump is reelected...depending on your perspective. Yes, it is a new year and a new decade but mostly it just another year. However, I believe that what every new year does bring is a fresh opportunity to examine life and contemplate doing a few things differently.
New Beginnings
It struck me that perhaps one way to have a healthy perspective on this "new beginning" is to think on He who has been the same, ever-present, faithful friend since the very beginning of time and creation.
John 1:1 tells us that "in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word WAS GOD."
Genesis 1:1 tells us "in the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth."
You see God has been with us from the very beginning. In the same way Jesus has been there from the very beginning. Jesus, THE WORD, was there when the earth was being formed. He was there and knew us when were being formed in our mothers womb, (Psalm 139:13).
He is the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). As children of the Most High, we can revel in the fact that we were chosen to be so before the foundation of the world through "the word" Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:4-5).
What an awesome way to begin a new year! We do not begin it haphazardly or without purpose. We were created and then reborn as believers WITH a purpose. To do good works which God prepared for us before we ever created or saved (Ephesians 2:10).
We have this incredible gift, this incredible perspective to begin 2020 with. We can get so hung up on resolutions such as getting healthy, getting our of debt, even being a "better Christian" by trying to read or memorize more bible or pray more, etc. As a nursing student I could make it more about being a better student. None of these things are bad, but if we miss the BIG PICTURE then what's the point.
Know the Word, Know Jesus, Know God
We don't have to do any of these things perfectly or primarily. What we do need to focus on is Knowing God a little more each day and striving to glorify Him every day in the little things. How we think, how we speak, how we use our time. IF we use 2020 to consider whether we are honoring God in the day to day details of life, then these other things will naturally get wrapped up in that. We need "THE WORD" to do that.
If you haven't given much thought to your relationship with Jesus "the Word" lately then that is absolutely first and foremost. Have you given your heart to Jesus and placed your trust in Him? Do you know Him? Do you want to know Him more? If you don't get this right, your eternity is in jeopardy and the rest doesn't matter. Relationship with Christ is the only way to fullness of life now and in the eternal life to come. If you have questions or need to discuss this further, reach out, the answers are there.
Once the answer to these questions is yes, then it is a matter of realizing that Jesus is "the Word made flesh". He is not just "the reason for the season", HE is the reason for everything. He is the reason we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). Relationship with Jesus is what makes the written word of scripture come alive and time in the written word of scripture is what makes our relationship with Jesus come alive. One suffers without the other.
So, what does all this mean? I believe it means that the most effective way to see success in 2020 is to spend a little time in "the word that is written", with "the word made flesh" as often as possible and to spend everyday asking ourselves how this should impact the little things in life. How do we think? How do we speak? How do we eat? How do we spend our time? If Jesus were here right now, how would that impact the way I live?
Two resolutions
1.) Love "the Word" in human form.
2.) Glorify God through living out "the Word" in written form.
I pray that God will help you and I to make this a greater reality in our lives this year in Jesus name.
"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." (Jude 1:24-25).
