A New Year
This is the first of a new year2015. If you are like me, as these New Years remembrances come and go, you are struck with how rapidly they pass us by. When I was in elementary and high school, it seemed that the time would pass by slowly, especially when I looked forward toward a special event in lifeor summer vacation. But as we age, we look back and wonder where all of the time has gone. It appears to pass by so rapidly!
Scripture invites us to compare our painfully brief time here on earth with the eternality of Almighty God. From everlasting to everlasting, You are God (Psalm 90:2b). Gods word reminds us that although God is eternal, we are bound to time while we are dwelling in the flesh. Peter quotes Isaiah: All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass, the grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the word of the LORD endures forever (1 Peter 1:24-25a). We are merely transitory whereas God and His Word reeternal.
As we leave 2014 behind us and begin to walk through 2015, it is good to take heed to James admonition: You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that (4:14-15). All that we plan for this new year is contingentit depends on God and His will for our life.
May we submissively heed Scripture this year of 2015. Lets read Gods Word more. Lets pray to the Lord more. Lets be more loving, kind, patient, self-controlled, and zealous for spiritual things. Lets be more compassionate and generous. Lets remember our rightful priorities. Lets put Jesus first in our life (Colossians 1:18), seek first Gods kingdom first (Matthew 6:33), and seek the things above rather than things on earth (Colossians 3:1-4).
Quite frankly, nothing else really matters. When our passing life is gone, the only thing that will matter is whether we know Jesus our Lord and are walking in His ways. Will you join me in doing this the present year of 2015?
Thoughtfully pondering eternity,
Richard