Going into a New Year is in some ways no different from any other Monday morning but it is a landmark. It may not be the most accurate way of numbering our days but there is no doubt it creates a new start, a blank page on which to write another chapter of your life story.
We don’t know what lies ahead any more that Abraham when he left home. “He went out not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews Chapter 11 verse 8). God said to go and he obeyed. No doubt he would have like a bit more information (as we would like to know in advance what is to happen in 2017) but it was enough for Abraham that God was in the driving seat.
As we move into another year of grace we need to check where God is sitting. Perhaps he is in the passenger seat of your car being listened to but not very often obeyed! Or, perish the thought, perhaps he is the spare tyre – only required in emergencies.
Abraham not only knew who was driving but he had faith in the driver. It is one thing to say that God is your driver but if the future scares you spitless then you don’t have much faith in his driving! What would faith in God look like for you as you motor through 2017 with all its frightening unknowns?
We go out into 2017 without knowing what it may hold for us. Some will have successes, others failures. There will be those in prefect health and others who have bodies that don’t do so well. There will be some who marry and have children and others who leave this scene of time. All will be older but will we be wiser?
St Peter says God has chosen us and enabled us to know him which has the effect of enabling us to escape much of the corruption of the world. He asks us to add to our faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge and to knowledge, self-control, and to self-control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter Chapter 1 verses 5/8).
A Happy and Faithful New Year to all.