Sat, Jan 6th - 8:47AM

New Year's Challenge 2007

Reflections

He hath made every [thing] beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world (eternity) in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.  Ecc. 3:11

          Serious reflection seems to be appropriate on at least two occasions during the year, birthdays and the beginning of the new year.  These are  times, marking points, if you will when a more objective view of life, one’s own life as well as the life of all the world around one is called forth to be examined and evaluated.  One’s birthday, obviously is the more personal of the two.  This is the mile-marker of a man’s natural development on this earth, and hopefully an index point, as well, as to how he has progressed in all important areas of his life.  The celebration of the New Year, on the other hand is a universal remembrance of the collective development of all humanity upon the earth, and may, perhaps be looked at as mankind’s birthday.  Now at the beginning of this particular year, 2007 A.D., I suppose a few thoughts, both personal as well as impersonal are in order.  I could muse on my own life here, and tell everyone about my successes and failures, how much my personal goals have or have not been realized, both spiritually as well as temporally.  I could go on to boldly state my resolutions for the coming year in light of my progress or lack of it in the past year.  But, since we each have experienced a fairly similar pattern in our lives concerning how we spent the last year, I don’t know that it would be particularly beneficial to anyone to bore us with the details of mine.  Just like each one reading this, I’ve had my ups and downs, my hopes and disappointments and measures of happiness and gloom in 2006.  It’s all past now and I, like the rest need to look ahead to the coming year.  (Phil. 3:13ff.)

          The question is:  How do I do this (look ahead to this coming year) in light of all I’ve come to know about God, eternity, His purposes, and the end of all things that can be seen and touched in this present world?  As the apostle Peter puts it in His second epistle:

[Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness,  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?  2Pet. 3:11,12

How can I therefore, place a value on all of the little as well as big things in my life, and the remaining time I may be given here in this coming year?  As you are reading this, the many details of your life are flashing in your mind, your loved ones, your possessions and your aspirations for life in general.  How do all of these things fit into the great scheme that is orchestrated and governed by the wise and loving hand of the Almighty God?  Now here is the real question I must ask myself at this juncture; and if you are astute in this matter, you will also query yourself in this same way: “Have I placed my personal wants and wishes below His wants and wishes for my life in this coming year?  Is the “I” and the “me” still preeminent, or have they been effectively subordinated by the power of the cross as a ruling principle in my life?”  Now, be careful dear religious friend, not to fall into the trap of confusing your intentions and goals with His.  Don’t be deceived by saying to yourself that you’ve got to get this and that to happen for God, and get more people instructed and encouraged along the way and the like, when really it is you, yourself that has the need of drawing closer to the Lord.  Don’t confuse the doing with the being.  Jesus said, “Abide and Me and I in you; for apart from Me you can do nothing.”  Jn. 15:4,5  This is extremely important to us living in this modern “Evangelical” culture. “I’ve got a this or that ministry, or need to develop such and such a ministry to meet that need.”  Then, the next logical step is, “How can I make a living at it.  Maybe sell my book on ‘How I did it,’ or go about lecturing on the same.”  Be careful my friends!  God looks at the secret intentions of the heart and winnows out the chaff of impure motives in His own beloved saints.  My suggestion here, is to let ministry and all of life’s important and essential activities flow out of a personal encounter with God, by means of the cross in your life.

          So then, where do I stand and what must I do in this coming year?  First of all, you must know the One whom you say you have believed in.  Truly know Him, that is.  And the way one truly comes to know Him is not simply by reading and hearing and following and involving oneself with others who do likewise.  These all have their place.  One must believe in Him, and if He is truly believed in, then one will obey Him, especially when it is contrary to all natural inclination.  This is what Jesus referred to as “taking up the cross to follow Him.” (see Matt. 10:38)  When we are willing to do this, all the wonderful fruit we desire and talk about will manifest in abundance in our lives.  We won’t need to tell everybody about all the things we are and have and intend to do.  The cross will show.  Jesus will manifest Himself to us and to them before we even realize it, and most importantly, God will be glorified.

          Yes, we need to reflect.  Yea, we need to think deeply on these things!  Do we want our lives to count truly for heavenly things?  Or would we like a little bit of glory for ourselves, with maybe a religious cloak over it, as we continue on in our short journey on this earth.  God knows.  Do we?

For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.  Jn. 6:38