MESSAGES
Every December 31st, people all around the world make resolutions of one sort or another for the coming New Year. We hear those infamous words: I'm going to lose 20 pounds ... I'm going to quit smoking ... I'm going to make more money ... I'm going to get that promotion ... I'm going to take that trip to Europe, etc. None of these things are necessarily bad. However, they can become unhealthy if that's all we focus on for the coming year.
As Christian's, let us remember that there is much more to life than money, health, and pleasure. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 13:11, "Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed." What would we do if we were informed that we only had one year to live? How would we respond? Would we change any of our plans that we now have? I believe there are many things we would think upon, and do differently if we were faced with this possibility.
I believe we would have a greater value for time and for the priorities of life. The time we've been killing would become very precious to us. We would try to recover as many wasted hours of the past as we could. We would ration carefully, and use wisely, the time we had left. Those things that were once important to us won't seem to be as important - money, cars, possessions, etc. Those things we once took for granted will suddenly become priceless - love of family, health, strength, spiritual matters, etc.
Not everyone would react to the news in the same manner. Some of us would immediately begin to clear up past obligations, while others of us would begin to partake of pleasures we've been putting off for a more convenient time. Still others of us might be paralyzed by fear.
Some of us would begin to make right those things that have been made wrong. We would try to make up for, and seek forgiveness for the wrong we've done to others. We would go to our mom, dad, brother, sister, daughter, son, and make amends for not speaking to them for the past 5 years. We would approach that brother-in-Christ, who we wronged the other day, and seek to be reconciled with him. We would do what we could to heal the past.
The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 7:29, "But this I say, brethren, the time is short..." If we were faced with the stark reality of having only one year to live, most every one of us would begin to make adjustments -- immediately. The truth of the matter is, none of us know if we have one more day, much less one more year to live. The point I want to make for all of us in 1999 is this: The changes we would make, if we had but one more year to live, should be made regardless of how much time we have left to live. Let us each live, from this moment on, the way we would if we knew that our days on this earth were few.
The only way we can truly have a Happy New Year is by taking care of the important matters in life. We know what they are because Jesus Christ has shown us. We have taken care of the most important matter in life, our salvation, when we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Lets now begin to take care of the rest. As we draw upon Jesus' wisdom and strength, He will help us to do what needs to be done. Let Him help so that we can enjoy 1999 as the Lord would want us to!
God bless you,
Pastor Steve |
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| SHIELD OF FAITH |
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For more information,
call (951) 687-6902
Attention Juanita
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