Ed Jones
Again, another new year has rolled around, and many of us are awestruck by just how long we have traversed this planet. The very word “new” causes many of us to attempt to change whatever it is that wants us to start over. We make resolutions: Quitting smoking, starting a diet, or purchasing a gym membership is only the beginning of a “fresh start.”
I would suggest that if there is a sin issue in any person’s life, he or she can address it right now. What better time to turn back and give everything over to God? This day should be a day of rejoicing. “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). This is the Psalmist’s exhortation for every day, not just New Year’s Day; not only on good days when we anticipate the company of friends and a great meal, perhaps music and dancing. Every day is the Lord’s Day, and every day we are His.
It is not a solemn time. Rather, it should be a time of rejoicing and, if you’ll permit, fun! Christians do not need to avoid “fun” as though Christ was averse to it. God does not demand that we be serious all the time.
Adrian Rogers explains, “Jesus was not a recluse. He performed His first miracle at a wedding when He changed water into wine. He was so full of life that His enemies called Him a winebibber and a glutton. He was not, but there was in Him a genuine joy, and if you don’t have that joy, you’re not like Jesus, for He is literally leaping with joy.”
We are not called into debauchery. That is not joy. But we are encouraged by Christ’s example to be filled with the exuberance for life, which is living inside of us by the Holy Spirit.
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Romans 8:14-15). We have so much reason to celebrate.
We are God’s children now, and … we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure (1 John 3:2-3).
John Piper explains what it means to be in Christ: “if you really want to be like Him by seeing Him when He comes, you’ll pursue being like Him now. You will.” In other words, the new year is a reminder to keep Jesus ever in the forefront of our minds.
We at Fellowship At The Ranch pray you have a happy, joyous, and blessed new year.
Ed Jones pastors Fellowship At The Ranch Church at Robson Ranch. This nondenominational church meets at the Robson Ranch clubhouse on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. For information, visit Fellowship’s website, www.fellowshipattheranchchurch.com.