“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19
Hey all, in case you haven’t noticed, it is the beginning of a new year, and if your reading this, it’s a promise and you’re living proof, He is who He says He is! (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Okay, so while the buzzword being used in media and outer circles around those of us “in the faith” is the word, “reset”.
According to Oxford dictionary it means to “set again differently.”
No doubt 2020 has been a monumental challenge throughout the world on how we are to live our lives. To say the least, we have seen so far, that we definitely need to readjust our sights on things in this world and eternal things.
We just lived through a challenging year. not really knowing how the world was going to work things out but knowing and trusting for ‘fact’ that “all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”
(Romans 8:28).
We also know and have experienced, ( to those who have been reading the Bible), that we have been given the ultimate, perfected “fact checker” in the form of our Holy Bibles.
Everything in the world that you have ever wanted to know about from beginning to end can be found in this book. And just to make sure we all can comprehend it, God has given us help. (John 14:26)
New Years Day can be a festive time full of hope and fresh promises. In fact, I was reading how our Jewish brothers and sisters were called to celebrate the first day of the Jewish New Year, Yom Teruah or Rosh Hashanah literally, a day of “shouting and blasting of trumpet playing” along with praying in the synagogue, times of personal reflection and the hearing of a shofar.
All this leads me personally to spend time today reflecting on all God’s promises to Patty and I, reflecting on His faithfulness in how not one promise was broken! (Lamentations 3:23)
It doesn’t take much looking to see His faithfulness and His promises for us in this New Year:
Jeremiah 29:11
Philippians 4:19
Isaiah 41:10
Isaiah 43:2 (King James)
2 Corinthians 1:20
Isaiah 40:29-31
2 Corinthians 1:20
These are just a few given to us by a living Savior, Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Make note of these other promises God made to those who believe in Him.
For example, God said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age and “I will never leave you nor forsake you”
Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5
Whatever twists and turns this year throws at us know that no matter where you are, and no matter how you feel, there is one particular promise we can “take to the bank” in the Coming again of Jesus Christ to our earth to take His church home!
I believe in the Second coming of Jesus Christ and that His return from heaven will be personal, visible and yes, glorious! But before He establishes His kingdom on earth, I believe Jesus will be coming for His Church, in the Rapture when the dead in Christ will be raised and those of us Christians who are alive will be “caught up to meet the Lord in the air and be with Him forever.”
(2 Thessalonians 2:1-10)
This is an abiding importance this week, the week after Christmas, and the week after that, and the week after that.
This promise is coming, it is real, you can count on it because of Him who makes this promise!
(Hebrews 20:23)
These promises were valid Christmas day, yesterday and next week.
It spans times of depression or periods of loneliness. His presence is not an emotion or a psychological elevator. It is a fact which touches the depths of our being, our emotions, His promises are not based on our own capacity or ability to wish them to be true, God’s promises are fact!
I was reading a short story from one of my many favorite Christian writers, G. Campbell Morgan, where it is told that he once “read the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:20 to an old woman on her deathbed.
He was quoted saying to the woman:
“Isn’t that a wonderful promise!” (Matthew 28:20)
The woman responded to Mr. Morgan:
“Sir, that isn’t a promise‑‑it is a fact!”
So this New Year, be encouraged, no matter where you are‑‑no matter how you feel‑‑know for…fact! That there is One who cares for you deeply and His presence can flood your heart and lift your spirit.
Whatever you do, whatever you will face, never ever forget that Jesus promised us:
“I am with you always, even unto the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20) all that you will ever need this coming year because Jesus Christ is a fact and all His promises are true. Why not put Him at the center of your life and see how living for Jesus can be different from the flow of the world but one thing for sure, follow Jesus and you are following eternity!
Walking the Berean Road 