What’s New?

I recently came across this quote, "No one can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending" (Unknown). I really began to think about that statement, and for me the conclusion was we don't start over but we begin again right where we are, allowing God to grow and fashion us in this life.

We’ve turned the page to January, so we might expect a lot of new things in this New Year. So what’s new in the New Year? In the old year war still raged on, and it looks like that will continue in 2010. In the old year stocks took a tumble and the housing bubble burst. Banks were bought and the auto industry was bailed out. Washington continued to spend and pass bill after bill. The end of December gave us a lot of cold and snow, and the month of January will probably be much of the same. So what’s new in the New Year? Solomon was right, there is not much new under the sun.

What about our personal lives? During the past year we all had our share of difficulty and trouble because that’s part of life in this fallen world. These challenges and problems may have come in the form of losing loved ones, or being separated from friends or family. Trials may have come in health issues, family or financial issues. Do you think we’ll get by from challenges and problems in this New Year? Hardly! And our own sin nature will be there again on a daily basis to plague and harass us. So what’s new in the New Year? Not much.

Consider on a brighter note, how about God? He was there for us this past year on a consistent basis. He lifted us at times, carried us and made ways for us through difficult and troublesome days. He is as the Psalmist puts it, a refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble (Ps 46: 1). Will he be there for us in the New Year to offer strength and guidance? Absolutely! What about his grace and mercy and his willingness to forgive our sins? That was there last year. Will that be there again in this year? You can count on it! God’s love never changes. The Bible reminds us, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb.13:8). So what’s new in the New Year? In this case, thankfully, we can say, not much.

Yet there are some things that will be new in the New Year. All of us will have new experiences and new opportunities. We will learn and love in new ways, nurture and become content in new ways. And each new day the Lord gives us will be full of a new portion of his grace and he will give us new strength for each new day as well. Also our new life in Christ will renew itself as we regularly allow the Holy Spirit to grow us, shape us and lead us—into life and into this New Year. And we can ultimately look forward to new life in the new world to come, thanks to Christ.

So what’s new in the New Year? Not much and a lot. And whatever may come, we trust the Lord to make the New Year a good year for us.

Let’s grow together,

Art