Welcome
to the New Year, 2013. As the old year drew to a close there were dire things
predicted. First was the widespread publicity concerning the Mayan
calendar. A lot of people believed that
the world would end on December 21st, because the 5,000 year old calendar ended
on that date. I was not concerned. We know the world will end, or our world
will end someday. And we will be translated to heaven to live a blessed and
eternal life in the presence of Jesus. My trust in Jesus and His lordship in my
life convinced me that, according to scripture, this was the future. I had no
fear of the end of the world.
Then there was the “fiscal
cliff.” The specter of economic upheaval
and worsening recession was held before us. This did not trouble me either. I
know that tough times come and go. We do not like to struggle financially. But,
as one money manager whom I know put it, life will go on. Sometimes we have
valleys to negotiate and problems of many kinds confronting us. But this I know.
We do not face them alone. We can still claim the promise God made through
Isaiah, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the
rivers, they shall not overflow you.” (Isaiah 43:2)
None of us can predict what will
transpire this year in the world or in our personal lives. But whatever may
come, we can get through it and rejoice in it because we know that Jesus is
with us. He promised His disciples, “Lo, I am with you always.” Talk of victory, in Him we will have victory
in all things.
So with confidence I wish you a
Happy New Year.
Grace
and peace.
