As this tumultuous and very difficult 2020 fades into our rear view mirror, many of us have undergone very distressing and even painful events over the past 365 days. We have suffered great loss, endured enormous amounts of stress and labored through uncertain prospects for the future. And though 2020 may be uniquely challenging and agonizing in its own way, in reality such difficulties are nothing new to this planet. “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.” (Ecclesiastes 1: 9-10)
Nonetheless, at the end of each year we look forward to better times ahead and as the glass ball in New York’s Times Square descends towards ground level heralding the start of the next year, many are making resolutions in hope of doing and being better in that coming year. Regrettably, these resolutions are usually doomed to failure because this new commitment and trust will be misplaced. The truth is that we should not put our trust in 2021 but put our trust in God. What we need is not a new year’s resolution, but a new heart solution. And this only comes about by having an intimate relationship with God Who does not wait for the arrival of a new year to reach out and offer comfort to us but instead says, “To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” (Hebrews 4: 7)
We are so blessed to have a compassionate, loving and merciful God Who tenderly extends His grace to us on a continual basis. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3: 20) It is no wonder we can all enthusiastically say, “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118: 24) because every day is a treasure trove of mercy and grace from our Lord and Creator Who loves us unconditionally and unfailingly. “It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3: 22-23)
But soon these time periods that we know as days and nights, which God Himself created, will no longer be. The time is coming when we who's names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life will exist eternally in the glorious, enlightening presence of Almighty God where He is the only light that is needed: “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” (Revelation 21: 23) Think of it. Everlasting, glorious light in the presence of a loving God. “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 22: 5)
Astonishingly, there are some that refuse to believe or even acknowledge the reality of these coming events. “…there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:” (2 Peter 2: 3-5) They sarcastically ridicule God’s “promise” of this soon coming entrance into eternity, not even realizing that the destruction of this current universe is being held back by God’s mercy Who is giving everyone chance after chance to be saved. “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3: 7-9) Thank God for His patience and longsuffering towards mankind. And we don’t have to try and figure anything out because everything He says is simply and plainly nothing but the truth. “God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good? (Numbers 23: 19) Therefore it is guaranteed that what He says will, without a doubt, come to pass. His promise and offer of salvation to this sinful world will not be revoked. It is certain and we believe it. “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3: 13) “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” (Titus 1: 2)
So it doesn’t matter who believes it or not because a new day is coming and it can’t be stopped. A day in which the Lord will perform an event like never before. A day that we His children can look forward to with joy unspeakable as we gleefully anticipate a marvelous existence to share with Him that we can barely comprehend, “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.” (Isaiah 65: 17-18)
Genesis 1: 1 says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” And when He had completed His magnificent work of creative genius in fashioning this universe the scripture says, “And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good.” (Genesis 1: 31) Unfortunately the idyllic existence in this divine paradise was corrupted and destroyed by sin as we began to indulge in disobedience, lust, pride, jealousy, murder and all of the works of the flesh, “…adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like” (Galatians 5: 19-21)
But God wasn’t taken by surprise by our willful acts of rebellion against Him. He anticipated this before creation and already had a solution for resolution. “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved. In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1: 4-7)
The ultimate culmination of His plan will result in a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no sin to contend with. No death, no sickness, no pain, no pride, no sorrow, no tears, no bad attitudes, no verbal, emotional or physical abuse, no betrayal, no corruption, no lying, no prejudice, no murder, no witchcraft, no hunger, no thirst, no lack, no depression and no discouragement. A completely new existence in a completely new universe. “And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21: 5) We, who are new creatures in Christ, will have a new name: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." (Revelation 2: 17) and a new body: "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself." (Philippians 20-21) And unlike Adam and Eve who were forbidden to eat from the Tree of Life, we will have full, unfettered access to it: “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (Revelation 22: 14)
Our vision will not be impaired in any manner but will be up close and personal, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13: 12) We shall blossom like exquisitely beautiful flowers and experience a glorious metamorphosis to emerge in the likeness of our Creator. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3: 2)
Yes, this life can be very difficult, but we have an all-powerful, all-knowing and ever-present God on our side. Because of this Jesus could declare with confidence, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5: 48) The Lord wants us to grow in grace, to steadily progress in maturity and completeness, and to stay busy striving to keep ourselves without spot or wrinkle. And we can do this, not because we are so good, but because God is so good. We don’t claim to be perfect people, but we are people passionately pursuing perfection. We don’t worry about yesterday, we make every effort to be better today. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” (Philippians 3: 13-15)
Again, we are not perfect but we don't settle for imperfection because the God we serve is perfect. “... With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10: 27) Each one of us is completely justified in believing and saying, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4: 13) And this is because our perfection comes not through us but through Jesus Who is the Prince of Perfect Peace. And it is through faith in Him that we can access the power of God Who gives us the ability to achieve and to be “…more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” (Romans 8: 37) We can be perfect because God says so. And He is the Purveyor of Perfect Power which He purposefully pours out on His precious people.
Therefore, dear ones, be not distracted, disheartened, discouraged or deceived, but keep holding on with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength. Never stop trying. Even if you mess up, slip up or trip up. Keep submitting to God, keep sincerely repenting to God and keep trusting in God because it will soon all be over and we don’t want to be caught off guard. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3: 10-12)
Beloved ones, don't be dismayed by the calamities of this present world or the evil of mankind, but keep your focus on the One Who created you and the place He has prepared for you. Be thankful that every day is another remarkable day to get saved, to be saved and to stay saved. “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation…” (2 Peter 3: 15-15) And remember that every day is one day closer to that great day. "And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." (Malachi 3: 17) Therefore, continue to fight for your right to eternal life! “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life..." (1 Timothy 6: 12) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4: 7)
And so dear brethren, rejoice, and again I say rejoice because the promises of God will not and cannot be taken away. If we trust in the Lord with all of our heart, fear Him and obey His commandments, we will make it to the end and receive our eternal inheritance as His beloved children. Guaranteed! “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.” (Isaiah 66: 22)
Coming soon and I can hardly wait!
“Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22: 20)
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