The beginning of another year is a suitable time for reflection on the past and for consideration of the future. The very fact that it has pleased the Lord to spare us to see the beginning of another year is reason for thankful acknowledgment to God for His goodness to us. “It is of His mercies that we are not consumed.” The forbearance of God towards sinners yet in their sins and also to His people, notwithstanding their many backslidings, calls for wonder and praise. The living soul cannot but acknowledge —
“And over all His other works
His tender mercies are.”
As we think of the past, whether the immediate past — the year that has just gone — or the more distant past — the years of our lives that have passed as a tale that is told — we have reason to remember the manifold mercies of the Most High towards us. Daily we have received of the Lord’s bounties in His providence. He has sustained us in life though we have been provoking Him to anger oftentimes. He is still sustaining us, for our breath is in His hands. “In Him we live, and move, and have our being.” “He giveth to all life, and breath and all things.” What reason then there is for us to humble ourselves before the great God of eternity and render unto Him that worship and service which is His due.
How solemn it is that if men are left to themselves they will not bow before God but will go on in the stubbornness of their own hearts in the ways of sin and death. If we are still in our sins, the beginning of another year is a suitable time to consider our ways and turn from our sins unto God. The call of God in His Word to sinners is — “Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” Sinners under the Gospel who have heard such a call will be found inexcusable at last if they have not obeyed it. Christ is represented in His Word as coming in the last day “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Let sinners give good heed to gospel overtures of mercy and cry to the Lord for mercy while the day of mercy lasts.
The children of God have reason, at the beginning of another year, to make thankful acknowledgment to God for the blessings of His grace. The Lord was pleased in a day of His grace to reveal Himself to them in His love and in His mercy in Christ Jesus. The manifestation of His distinguishing grace will ever be a matter of wonder to them. Not only has the Lord bestowed upon His people saving grace but also sanctifying and sustaining grace. He has begun a good work in them and He is to carry it on until the day of Jesus Christ. He is to perfect that which concerns them, notwithstanding their many fears and failings and backslidings. It is by His Spirit that He is carrying on this work in them. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to take of the things of Christ and reveal it unto them. He leads into the truth of God’s Word and opens to them the fulness of the Covenant. He gives them to understand that there is enough and to spare for them there — that there is enough for them not only for time but also for eternity. These riches consist of all the promises of God’s Word which are Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus.
From that Covenant then we draw forth this promise: “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” The promise is sure to all that believe. “None perish that Him trust.” Believers are called to go on in the strength of the Lord, recording His righteousness and His only. They are to be strengthened by His might inwardly so that they may go from strength to strength until they appear at last before God in Zion. Let the children of God then encourage themselves in the Lord their God. Let them ever remember that the Lord has given them His own promise — “as thy days, so shall thy strength be” — and He is faithful that promised and will be as good as His Word to them. He will sustain His people in the midst of great trials and afflictions, as well as in brighter seasons, and will bring them at last to their desired haven.