It's the same every year. The old year was a mixed bag of good and not so good times. There were times of both happiness and sadness. Some dreams were fulfilled. Some left only disappointments. So the folks gather at parties or public celebrations to ring out the old and ring in the new. Hope springs eternal and the excitement and mystery of the uncharted waters of the future lie before us. But we would be well advised to remember that time is always moving forward. Life is transitory and in reality "there is nothing new under the sun". We have no guarantee of being here this time next year - much less tomorrow.
Whatever your plans are for the coming year, why not start it off by considering what God's Word says about time. The human author was a wise man named Solomon. He writes eloquently:
"To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.
I know that whatever God does,
It shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it.
God does it, that men should fear before Him.
That which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been;
And God requires an account of what is past."
(Ecclesiastes 3: 1-15, NKJV)
Remember that each day God gives us is just that - a gift. Enjoy them. Embrace them. Use them for good. Allow Jesus to live through you and redeem the time. We do not know what today, or tomorrow, or all of 2008 will hold for us. There will be crises to face and decisions to make. Solomon gives us a good formula in the third chapter of his "Book of Proverbs" for how to live every day of our lives. This is God's desire for all of us, and my New Year's wish to you.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.
Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor detest His correction;
For whom the Lord loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights."
May God bless you with a Happy, Fruitful, and Abundant New Year!
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