“Happy New Year!”

“Happy New Year!”(Jn.16:32-33).
It’s a brand new day in another year. If we are here today it means we are survivors and overcomers. Did we survive and overcome because we were better than those who now sleep the everlasting sleep? For us who believe in Christ Jesus we survived and overcame because he was our Immanuel.
Yesterday on his Facebook post one friend told the story of a man who took his young son to the market. As they passed by a fruiterer the fruiterer told the boy to stretch his hands and take some fruits for himself. The boy looked at his father but did nothing. The fruiterer repeated what he had said, but the boy still did not budge as he looked at his father. When the fruiterer told him for the third time, the boy looked at his father again. The father stretched out his hand and gathered some fruits. On their way home the Father asked the son why he did not take the fruits as requested? The boy told his father, “I did not because I know your palm is larger than mine.”
God is the father who has brought us into this new year. If we look up to him and do not depend on our own strength and intelligence, he will gather enough fruits for us, more than we can do ourselves.
Another friend wrote that going into the forest with a lighted lamp in the night is not a guarantee that you would see all the trees in the forest. The light from the lamp helps you to see just around you so that your feet may not slip etc. Jesus Christ the light of the world illumines your immediate concerns but continues to give you light until you get to your destination.
When his time to leave this world was near the Lord Jesus Christ told his disciples, “But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered each to his own home. You will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
My friend, the new year will be rosy no doubt, but life can never be a bed of roses. Even if it were so, take note that roses grow on thorny shrubs. In order to pluck a rose you can be pierced by a thorn.
When trouble comes, our comfort is in the fact that we already anticipate it since our Lord tells us to expect trouble. Yet he gives us the words of comfort to live with: “But Take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Again he knows that as humans we are weak and vulnerable, prone to doubt his ability to save. But he is never alone! He is with the Father.
He the risen Lord gives us that blessed assurance too. “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”(Mt.28:20b). We are never alone! God is with us. When the voice of men rises above the voice of God and tries to coerce us into silence, we must be bold enough to tell them, “We must obey God rather than men!…”(Acts 5:29ff).
Dear friend, as we begin the year 2023 expect the best, but be ready for the challenges. However, here is our anchorage: “…As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous…Be strong and very courageous…Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” in 2023.
But we are not just going to do as we please because of the assurances. We must not deviate to the right or left from the Word Of God. If we have to be successful the Word must not depart from our mouths. We must meditate on it regularly so that we “may be careful to do everything written in it” (Jos.1:1-9).
Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has overcome the world. Let us put our trust in him and in 2023 we too will overcome all vicissitudes!
Prayer: Heavenly Father thank you for giving me another year of grace. Make me an active participant in your plan for me and mine in 2023. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you! Happy and very fulfilling new year to you and family!
Rev Babila Fochang.