In the kind providence of the Lord we have been brought to the beginning of another year in time. The Lord in his long suffering has spared us until this time in the land of the living. In view of this it is proper for us to consider the Lord’s goodness to us in the past and also to think of the prospects for the future.
In considering what is past we have reason to praise the Lord for His great goodness to us in the manifold blessings He has bestowed upon us in providence. He has provided for our temporal needs day by day so that we have not experienced the lack of food and water and clothing which has been the lot of many of our fellow creatures in different parts of the world. As we consider the goodness of the Lord in this way, we have to acknowledge that it is not for any worthiness in us that the Lord has so dealt with us. If He had dealt with us according to our sins how awful would our situation now be. He has shown to us so much of His goodness notwithstanding our sin and rebellion and backsliding. How we ought to lay this to heart. To others it was said: “Despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and long suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” This is the fruit that the long suffering of God ought to bring forth in our lives, that is, the fruit of repentance. Such manifestations of the Lord’s kindness ought to bring us to see the enormity of our sin as against a God of infinite goodness and love. What reason we have to mourn over the multitude of our iniquities and to cry for mercy to a God who is merciful and slow to anger.
In looking to the past we have cause to set up our Ebenezer and say: “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” Also, “It is of the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, it is because His compassions fail not; they are new every morning.” The receipt of so many temporal favours ought to remind us of the shortness of time and that these temporal favours are not to last forever. We will need to be in possession of something better than temporal blessings when it comes to facing death, judgment and eternity. Therefore however good it is to be receiving daily of the blessings and benefits which are for time, we are to seek something better. If we are yet without Christ and without a well grounded hope for eternity, it is time at the beginning of another year to seek the Lord as the portion of our soul. He only can satisfy the needy soul. None other can deliver from the wrath to come, but He is able to do this. He is able to rescue from the lowest hell, for that is what our sins deserve. We must come to saving belief of the truth, and to a resting upon Jesus Christ alone for eternity. In Him is everlasting salvation from sin and death. None who trust in Him shall perish.
In looking forward at the beginning of another year, the future may look very dark. The Lord’s Cause is low and appears to be getting lower. The enemies of Christ and His Cause appear to be multiplying in our day. What hope can we see for the living Church of God in the turmoil of the last decade of the 20th century? We do not know what the Lord has immediately in store for His Church. It may well be that things will get darker still. That is all in the Lord’s Hand. He can in a moment revive and refresh His weary heritage. He can pour His Spirit forth and renew the face of the whole earth. To Israel He said: “I will yet be enquired of the house of Israel to do it for them.” What need there is then to plead with the Lord that He would pour His Spirit forth and grant refreshing showers. He is to build up Zion, according to His promise. That promise He will fulfil. Let His people, therefore, pray to Him for it so that “the desert shall rejoice and blossom as a rose.” May times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord come in the days which lie ahead. May the year now opened prove a turning point in the history of the Church of God in raising up Jacob when he is small and prove a time of the ingathering of multitudes of Jews and Gentiles to Jesus Christ.
In the affairs of our nation and of the nations of the world many things look very threatening. So far as the nation is concerned we are moving further and further away from the acknowledgment of the One living and true God. In the last 30 years the nation has apostatised at an alarming rate from God. The house of God is to a large extent abandoned by the large majority of the people and evils of every kind are breaking out on every hand. The sins of the nation are crying out for divine judgments. The long-suffering of the God of heaven has delayed these judgments but for how long we know not. There is a loud call to repentance. How suitable is Habakkuk’s plea: “in wrath remember mercy”. In world affairs the situation is no less threatening when the nations are on the brink of war in the Middle East where an awful conflagration may break out at any time bringing death and destruction to thousands. Men’s lust for power remains the same, leading to confrontation. Only One can intervene to resolve the crisis and prevent bloodshed but how unwilling men are to look to that One for help. The Lord sits King upon His throne and ever shall. Let the nations quake before Him. Christ has not handed the reins of the Government of the world into men’s hands. He is still, as Nebuchadnezzar found out doing according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the world. May He intervene in these critical times for our deliverance. As we face another year let our trust be in the Lord and let His people go on in strength of God the Lord recording His righteousness and His only. May they say each one with the Psalmist:-
“I will sing to the Lord Most High,
so long as I shall live;
And while I being have I shall
to my God praises sing.”
Ps. 104: 33.