Reflecting on the Past, Anticipating the Future

December 31^st- A representation of endings and new beginnings. In all reality, it’s just another day on the calendar. Nothing magical happens; Fairy Godmothers don’t miraculously appear and no one turns into a pumpkin at midnight. We all know this, yet there remains something special about the New Year. It’s an opportunity to reflect on past decisions and circumstances. Likewise it’s an occasion for making changes and new choices. It’s almost like a second chance at life.

Praise the Lord we have a God that is all about second chances. Not only that, He is all about third, and fourth, and fifth, and tenth, and hundredth, and thousandth chances! Whew! If that’s not enough, our God, full of wonder and surprise, is never surprised or shocked by us, our actions, or our circumstances. Sure, we surprise ourselves. We disappoint ourselves. We let ourselves down. But our God- He’s never shocked. He already saw our substance, being yet unformed. And in His book they all were written, the days fashioned for us, when as yet there were none of them (Ps 139:16).

As we reflect on the past, becoming overwhelmed with dread and regret, our God confidently rejoices in where we’ve been, who we are, and who we’re becoming. He takes our failures and hurts, and works them out for the good because we are called according to His perfect purpose. He foreknew you! He predestined you! He called you to be conformed to the image of His Son! And not only that, whom He called, He also justified, and whom He justified, He also glorified (Rm 8:28-30)! This is NOT future tense! Foreknew, predestined, called, justified, glorified… PAST TENSE! You already ARE. Period.

Still disappointed in your past? Still ashamed of your history? God’s not. As a matter of fact, He sees your past and

anticipates the future because He knows the thoughts He thinks toward you, and those thoughts are of peace and not of evil, thoughts to give you a future and a hope (Jer29:11). How precious are those thoughts toward you. How great is the sum of them! If you should count them, they would be more in number than the sand (Ps139:17-18)!

So as we enter into a New Year and anticipate a new beginning, let us not disregard the good, the bad, and the ugly of our past, because this is forming us into the image of the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.

But you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name

of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.  

-1 Cor 6:11

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In With the New

The coming of a new year brings thrilling anticipation. There is something special and unique about the new versus the old. I don’t know about you, but I get pretty excited about all things new, from the small insignificant new pair of shoes, new favorite song, new recipe, or new wall paper on my cell phone to the grandest new things like a new car, new job, new baby, or new house. What can I say? I love new stuff!

Unfortunately, newness lasts only a short moment and quickly wears off. After purchasing our home only 2 ½ years ago, it no longer feels new. I catch myself growing frustrated with my tiny kitchen and coveting a larger, nicer, newer house. Especially when packing fourteen people in for Christmas dinner! Likewise, my new pair of jeans, new hair color, and new cell phone stays new for such a fleeting moment.

In part, this desire to always have something new results from a lack of contentment; something I struggle with daily. On the other hand, yearning for that which we do not have is a craving given us by our Creator. We know that we were made for more. We long for that which we do not see (Heb 11:1). And yet, we attempt to fill that longing with a multitude of things we do see, hence all the new things I so desire.  Again and again, these grand, new, exciting things neglect to fulfill that yearning within.

Our faithful God offers a newness of life that will not disappoint (Rom 6:4). He makes us a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). He makes all things new (Rev 21:5). He grants new, unfailing compassion every morning (Lam 3:22-23). He gives us a new commandment of love (Jn13:34-35). He promises a new heaven, a new earth (2 Pt 3:13), and a new name (Rev 2:17) to those spending eternity with Him.

As we move into the New Year, let us set our hearts on the new life He has given us. Let us cast aside the old man which grows corrupts and be renewed by putting on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:22-24). I thank God for new beginnings and new hopes that come with a New Year.

Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. -Isaiah 43:19

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