New Year Long Ago

I remember the night well. Somehow the night seemed significant to me since it was December 31 and a new year was dawning—on January 1. Not only that, but a new decade was before us. In other words, the end of one decade and the beginning of another decade of ten years. So somehow, the time seemed momentous.

I lived in a small town and it seemed that fireworks were plentiful. People (whether legally or illegally) seemed to enjoy making noises to celebrate the coming of a new year. We never did this as a family but the firecracker sounds were ubiquitous. I opened the front door and listened to these sounds. Although the years have passed since that time, I well remember thinking that this day would not happen again—for all eternity. Yes, in some sense, it would happen once more in ten years but then I would be much older. So this occasion did seem eventful.

A lot of time has passed by since that night at 12 o’clock midnight. I have lived in many different places. I’ve worked many different jobs. My father and mother have now departed (although my brother and sister are still with us). God has taught me so much in the intervening years. And I’ve been able to see that God continues even when human life changes and passes away.

I’ve thought of this yesterday and today as we face another year—and another decade. We really don’t know what the coming decade will bring, what changes will occur, who will die and who will be born. To repeat the words of Solomon: “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

 

The wise man continues: “A time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.” Among other things, the writer also says: “A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away.” He continues: “A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; a time to be silent and a time to speak” (vv. 2, 5, 6, 7).

How is it with you? How do you view this day and this year? What is your perspective on life and how do you view death? Surely this time next year and especially ten years from now, some of us will be gone. If the Lord Jesus tarries His coming (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), we know that some will probably die. The Hebrew writer reminds us: “It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (9:27).

Yes, I do recall standing at the front door at midnight on December 31 as it passed into January 1. I stood transfixed as I meditated on the significance of the day and night. Once again last night I was made to remember that time and contemplate what the coming days and years might bring. We don’t know. I do know that many years—even decades—have passed but God continues.

We do know that God is “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 90:2) and He is trustworthy and true. We can trust that He knows best and will bring us through the trials and perplexities of life. Let us remember the significance of this day and press on until God calls us Home!