The first of the year is usually a time of renewal and
optimism. In some sense, it’s like
we get to start over.
But for many, the coming of 2013 may be characterized more
by uncertainty and doubt than by optimism and renewal. We experienced several high profile
mass murders in 2012, including the horrific school shooting in Connecticut
just weeks before the end of the year.
The air of violence and insecurity is still freshly lingers. Then there is the “fiscal cliff” crisis
promising more economic uncertainty in the New Year. No one knows what kind of taxes they’ll be paying. Employers are afraid to create new
jobs. Many are convinced that we
are headed directly for the kind of financial nightmare being experienced right
now in parts of Europe. On top of
that, the future of health care is still a huge question mark. It’s getting more expensive, not less,
but we seem to be getting sicker, not better.
Uncertainty. We
don’t know exactly what the future holds, but many of the signs we see indicate
that it holds trouble. So what are
we to do?
In spite of appearances, not everything is uncertain.
There are numerous blessed certainties that we can take with us into
2013. Here are a few things that
we know to be true, that cannot fail:
1. God will remain on His throne in 2013.
Psa 45:6 Your throne,
O God, is forever and ever.
Earthly rulers will come and go this year, but the sovereign
ruler of all creation has been and always will be on the throne. Even if the government and economy of
the United States collapses, there will be nothing
that is truly out of control.
2. God will without fail accomplish His holy
will in 2013.
Eph 1:11 …[He] works
all things according to the counsel of his will…
Some things may surprise us this year, both pleasant and unpleasant
things, but nothing will surprise our God. Nothing surprises Him because He has laid out His plan from
the foundation of the world and He is actively accomplishing it. All that we see that seems to be chaos
has been precisely timed and implemented to bring ultimate glory to our
God.
3. God will cause all things to work out for
the good of His people in 2013.
Rom 8:28-30 28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for
those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he
foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order
that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those
whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified,
and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Essentially, God is going to see to it that those who love
Him are more like His Son at the end of 2013 than they were at the
beginning. All those who love Him
are delighted by this truth. There
is nothing to fear. We have only
to look forward to greater conformity to the image of Christ.
4. God will grant us countless opportunities
to bring Him glory in 2013.
1 Pet 2:9-12 9 But you are a chosen race, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may
proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his
marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are
God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the
passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep
your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you
as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of
visitation.
By how we handle adversity and conduct ourselves in the
midst of trying times, we have the ability to cause the world around us to
glorify God. He has chosen us and
given us this mandate. We must
recognize this and seize every opportunity He gives.
5. God will provide for all our needs in 2013.
Phi 4:19 19
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in
Christ Jesus.
Rom 8:32 32
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not
also with him graciously give us all things?
Psa 37:25 25
I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
We all have physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. We will most likely be stretched in one
or more of these areas this year.
But we can rest assured that what we absolutely need He will
supply. He already provided for
our greatest need by giving His Son to save us from our sins. He is more than capable of providing
for lesser needs.
6. God will bring us closer to the return of
His Son in 2013.
1 Thess 4:16-18 16
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the
voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead
in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left,
will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air,
and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one
another with these words.
With every day, with every moment, we get closer to seeing
our Savior. The Father is
orchestrating events all around us to usher in that day. Therefore
encourage one another with these words.
God’s Word never changes. And if we take the time, we can find countless other
certainties there to bring us comfort and joy as we begin a new year. May these certainties cause all
uncertainties to fade before us as we trust Him in 2013.
Posted by Greg Birdwell
Comments