NEW YEAR, NEW HOPE, NEW BEGINNING

 

NEW YEAR, NEW HOPE, NEW BEGINNING

For many people, the new year represents a new beginning, a new hope, and new possibilities. Some people tend to greet it with relief, particularly if the previous year was extremely hard or stressful. It is also a time of reflection, both on the previous year and on the coming new year. We don’t have to wait for a new year to arrive to have a fresh start.

We are thankful to our Lord God Almighty every day for all the blessings that He has bestowed upon us and for bringing us through each and every year. Every breath in our mouths is a gift given to us by our Creator. At times, we are facing uncertainty, but through faith, we rejoice because every day is a blessing from God.

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Before you think about or write down your goals for the new year, maybe it’s a good idea to examine yourselves internally first. Begin the new year with a repentant heart, admitting that you've sinned against Almighty God by breaking His moral laws (the Ten Commandments).

Have you ever lied?

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:8
 

Have you ever stolen anything regardless of its value?
Thou shalt not steal. Exodus 20:15

Have you ever used God’s name in vain?

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Exodus 20:7

Have you ever looked at a person with lust?

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28

Have you ever hated someone?

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.1 John 3:15

If you’ve answered yes to these five questions, by your own admission, you’re a lying, thieving, blasphemer, adulterer and murderer at heart. We’ve only looked at five of the Ten Commandments; that’s how God sees you; nothing is hidden from His holy eyes.

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14

Sin is so serious for a holy, just, and righteous God. Ten out of Ten will die. We are all on death row; we have a big blue sky as our holding cell, great air conditioning, the privilege of everything we see and hear that God created, and the pleasure of eating and drinking, yet we are all standing in a line waiting to die, and it should be our greatest concern to know where we will end up after death. Our appointment with death comes with an unavoidable judgement.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Hebrews 9:27

Will you be innocent or guilty on the day of Judgement? Listen to your conscience. You know that you will be guilty, and therefore end up in God’s eternal prison a place called Hell.

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 

Matthew 10:28

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15

To repent is to be sorry for who you are and what you are. To change your mind from unbelief to belief in Jesus Christ alone and recognize that He is indeed Lord and Saviour.

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. James 4:17

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36

Believing and trusting in the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ alone to save you from the wrath to come through His death, burial, and resurrection, and His precious blood that was shed on the cross at Calvary, God will cleanse you of all of your sins, and He will fill you with the Holy Spirit, granting you the assurance of eternal life. You will then be born again with a new heart (spiritually) and have a desire to do what is righteous.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Colossians 1:14

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:28

The new year should also be a time of renewing old commitments under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Asking God to help us to:

Increase our prayer life (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Read, study, and meditate on the word of God every day (2 Timothy 2:15).
Overcome temptations to sin (Romans 12:2).
Be a part of the Great Commission (Mark 16:15).
Fasting (Matthew 6:17-18)

The proper response to the past year, whether good or bad, is not "I made it through" or "Look what I achieved." It is "Thank You, Lord God Almighty."

Happy New Year to everyone!

Blessings in Christ,

David & Gay

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