Know Your Bible

VOL. 12 December 29, 2013 NO. 44

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A JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN

God is the giver of many wonderful new things. We come to Him by faith in His Son, and through the new birth we receive a new heart to begin a new life. With this new life comes a new hope and a new purpose for living. Finally at the end of the way, if we have remained faithful to Him, we will receive a new body and a new home in heaven. Nothing up there will ever become old or worn out.

If we live just three more days God will give us a new year. This means a new start with a New Year of 365 days stretching before us. It will be fresh and unblemished by failure. To all of us it will be a time to turn over a new leaf and begin to write a new story on a clean page. There is something about the passing of the old year and the beginning of a new year that makes us want to do better. As we reflect over the past year most of us probably feel we haven’t done so well - we have not lived for God as we should. Now we have a chance for a new start. So we will have new dreams, and make new resolutions, to replace the ones that did not come true in 2013.

So, we are about to begin a journey we have not passed before. As Joshua was preparing the people for their journey into the promised land, he sent his officers into the camp to prepare the people for the crossing over, telling them they were to follow the ark of the covenant, “that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before” Josh.3:2-4. I want us to use the emphasized and make some observations.

We are looking upon a new year looming before us, and taking a journey into the unknown. With Joshua we can truthfully say, “we have not passed this way before.” Yet, I am sure God wants us to be happy in heart and prosperous in the best things of life in 2013. Both of these things can be ours if we truly follow His Son during the year. We read in Matt.6:33 (a very familiar verse to many of us), “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” This is God’s formula for true prosperity and happiness, not the material things the world seeks after, food, drink, raiment, etc.; but the spiritual blessings of being a Christian. God will give you all the things you need, and cause your heart to sing with joy if you give Him first place. We are to do this every day of the year, not just in church services, but also in the home, on the job, and in every walk of life.

Another passage we might notice, while considering true happiness and prosperity in the coming year is 3.Jn.2. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, even as your soul prospers” (emphasis mine – t.t.). Note the emphasis, first and foremost the welfare of your soul, then the other things. God is willing to give you a happy and prosperous year, but you must do your part. When my wife bakes a cake she must put certain ingredients into it, so it will turn out right. So, if you want to have a prosperous, happy new year, then you must put certain things into it. There are at least five ingredients indispensable to having a wonderful life this coming year. Let’s notice them.

The first ingredient is the Bible. You cannot neglect the Bible, and find true happiness and prosperity. If you read and heed the Book you will be able to live a clean life, withstand the dangers and overcome the temptations of life. It is a safe book to live by, and a sweet book to die by. The Bible is like a photographer. It shows the real you, a photograph with all its blemishes and spots. Let it be your guide during 2014.

A second ingredient needed is prayer. Physical life comes from breathing the air God gives us, and spiritual vitality comes from prayer. We need to hold on to God’s hand throughout the year if we want the strength to bear the burdens, and resist the temptations thrust upon us by the devil. All the great men of the Bible were men of constant prayer. Daniel, David, Paul are just a few to be named, whose lives were enriched with prayer. And, of course, the greatest example of all, Jesus, who prayed constantly and consistently from His baptism to His ascension. If Jesus, who stilled the storms, healed the sick, raised the dead, saw the need of prayer, what about us?

A third ingredient is living a consecrated life. All the prayers and Bible readings come to naught unless it is backed up by a consecrated life. Faithful service and attendance to church services is just a small part of walking with God. Walking with God also includes separation from the world. Too many Christians compromise with the world. That is why they are ineffective. They go to places that are questionable, and do things that are wrong. The world may not read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but they surely read the lives of those who profess Christianity.

A fourth ingredient is the element of giving. Men should be willing to give a day to the Lord. The first day of the week is a good time to give our bodies a rest from the labors of the past week. It is also a time for worshipping God. Man was made with the desire to worship a higher being. It is also a time for service to God and our fellow man. Not only that, man should give the first part of each week to God. Start the day with communion with God. Also, give God the first part of each dollar we make. Give Him your best and you will be blessed.

A fifth ingredient is to spend some time trying to save a soul. Have you ever tried to win a soul away from the devil? Why not resolve to do your best to teach someone else in 2014. You will not regret it.

Yes, friends, in three days we will begin a new year, a journey we have never traveled before, a journey into the unknown. Let us be sure to take God along on this journey.

Remember, last year some people sat where you sat. They are no longer here. The death angel came for them. Next New Year’s Day some of us may be gone. So make the best of the New Year. May the year 2014 truly be a great year for the Lord here, and everywhere else too.

---Thomas Thornhill

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