Articles
Happy New Year
Happy New Year
A few days from now the year 2023 will come to an end and the new year 2024 will have its beginning. I venture to say that most of us, perhaps even all of us, are looking forward to the days and months that lie ahead, even to the point of making plans concerning those days. But let us never forget, no not for a moment, that there are no guarantees that we will ever see any of those days. I do not want spreading gloom and doom nor am I attempting to frighten anyone but we all need to understand that everything about us in this earthly life can change in the twinkling of eye (Psalms 90:9-12, James 4:14, 1 Samuel 20:3)
Every tick of the clock, every new sunrise we see just bring each of us one step closer to the time when we will fold up this earthly tent and step out into eternity where we will face our Lord in judgment (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Romans 14:12, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Hebrews 9:27, Acts 17:31). The words of one of our grand old songs comes to mind: “Swiftly we’re turning life’s daily pages, Swiftly the hours are changing to years, How are you using God’s golden moments, Shall we reap glory, Shall we reap tears.”
So long as we live in this physical body, we are not at home (Phil. 3:20-21). I often think about the beautiful words of 2 Cor. 5:6-9, “Therefore, being always of good courage and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—for we walk by faith not by sight—we are of good courage, I say, and prefer to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.”
The Lord willing, as we enter the new year 2024, I pray that each of us will resolve to be an example of the believer and because of our zeal and enthusiasm others will be led to obey and glorify God (1 Timothy 4:12, Matthew 5:13-16). May each of us resolve to be all we can be as we faithfully serve the Lord. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 provides us a good pattern to follow in this effort, “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” As we continue down life’s pathway whatever remaining days we have left on this side of eternity will be successful ones so long as we let God have full possession of our life, yield every member to him and let his word fill our hearts, mold our thoughts and guide our life every step of the way from here to eternity (1 Cor. 6:19-20, Rom. 6:13-19, Ps. 73:23-24, Philippians 1:9-11).
As I think about the tomorrows that lie ahead, the Lord willing, I truly believe that the feelings of my heart for you are found in 3 John 2, “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”
Charles Hicks, Gallatin Tennessee
