A New Resolution
It's a new year. Advent is now over. Most of us are in the process of taking down Christmas lights, and putting away the decorations. Many of us are reflecting upon the past years blessings and failures while most of the world is focusing on resolutions for the new year.
Resolutions to stay better organized, to finally get that education, and of course the most popular resolutions are to eat better and get more exercise. Resolutions are all around us, one cannot escape from it.
When thinking about new years resolutions, I can't help but wonder what happened to last year's resolutions, and the one before that, and the one before that? Do new year's resolutions really even matter? And are they even worth making?
With the new year is here, I find myself thinking more and more about my personal new year's resolution. I want to make a resolution that has meaning and value, not just a to lose a mere few pounds that I'll gain back come next Thanksgiving, but a resolution that has an eternal value, one that will never fade. Let's face it, this body is fading. I am reminded of it daily. I am not as youthful as I once was. I am not as limber or athletic as I was in my teens and early twenties. I am faced with the reality as I watch my own parents age, that my life too is but a vapor as James 4:14 says. Everyday I realize more and more the truth of Solomon's words that everything we do apart from Christ is vanity - or meaningless (Ecclesiastes 1:14). We work to get riches and get ahead in life but yet it will not last. We die and cannot take anything with us, our money, education, nor accomplishments. So I have come to reflect upon Jesus' words of not laying up treasures for ourselves in the this world where moths and rust will eat it up, but rather to lay up for ourselves treasures in Heaven.
Reading the Bible there are so many visuals of treasure given in Heaven like mansions, loved ones, streets of gold, and gates of pearls. But is that all there is? Definitely not. And the Bible is very clear that there is so much more than riches to be found if we would just take time to read His Word.
I believe that the true treasure to be found in Heaven is Jesus and scripture couldn't make it more crystal clear. He is eternal. He was in the beginning and is the Creator of all things made. Everything that we can see and touch, He has made. He made our family, our friends, our loved ones. He made all the places that we dream about traveling to each year to see. He made it all; however, we are all guilty of wanting to enjoy all of His creation without ever caring to know the Creator. Jesus is the One who doesn't change and fade when everything else does. He is the True Treasure and He gave up everything to reconcile us with Himself once again, just as it was in the Garden of Eden. He made me, He redeemed me, and even see's me as righteous in His sight - the most amazing thing about all this is that I don't deserve it (none of us do) and He didn't have to take my punishment or yours but rather He chose to. That my friend is the ultimate act kindness, and the most amazing display of love and affection one could ever hope for.
This year, I will not resolve to set my affections and heart on meaningless resolutions. My heart is set on knowing Jesus, the One who made me, Who rescued me, and the One whom I will spend an eternity with when my time on earth here is done.
My resolution is not to study about Jesus but to commune with Him because He is Emmanuel, He is God with us. We don't have to wait to get to Heaven to meet Him, He is calling us to know Him now. The God of the universe is calling us simple ones to lay aside the distractions of the world and to spend our time on earth getting to know Him through His Word and to make His Word known. Jesus is the best gift and the fullest joy we could ever know. In Him is Peace, in Him is Joy, in Him is Eternal Life, and in Him - He makes all things new.
Do you know Him?
Visit
www.areugoodenough.org to find out more.
Resolutions to stay better organized, to finally get that education, and of course the most popular resolutions are to eat better and get more exercise. Resolutions are all around us, one cannot escape from it.
When thinking about new years resolutions, I can't help but wonder what happened to last year's resolutions, and the one before that, and the one before that? Do new year's resolutions really even matter? And are they even worth making?
With the new year is here, I find myself thinking more and more about my personal new year's resolution. I want to make a resolution that has meaning and value, not just a to lose a mere few pounds that I'll gain back come next Thanksgiving, but a resolution that has an eternal value, one that will never fade. Let's face it, this body is fading. I am reminded of it daily. I am not as youthful as I once was. I am not as limber or athletic as I was in my teens and early twenties. I am faced with the reality as I watch my own parents age, that my life too is but a vapor as James 4:14 says. Everyday I realize more and more the truth of Solomon's words that everything we do apart from Christ is vanity - or meaningless (Ecclesiastes 1:14). We work to get riches and get ahead in life but yet it will not last. We die and cannot take anything with us, our money, education, nor accomplishments. So I have come to reflect upon Jesus' words of not laying up treasures for ourselves in the this world where moths and rust will eat it up, but rather to lay up for ourselves treasures in Heaven.
Reading the Bible there are so many visuals of treasure given in Heaven like mansions, loved ones, streets of gold, and gates of pearls. But is that all there is? Definitely not. And the Bible is very clear that there is so much more than riches to be found if we would just take time to read His Word.
I believe that the true treasure to be found in Heaven is Jesus and scripture couldn't make it more crystal clear. He is eternal. He was in the beginning and is the Creator of all things made. Everything that we can see and touch, He has made. He made our family, our friends, our loved ones. He made all the places that we dream about traveling to each year to see. He made it all; however, we are all guilty of wanting to enjoy all of His creation without ever caring to know the Creator. Jesus is the One who doesn't change and fade when everything else does. He is the True Treasure and He gave up everything to reconcile us with Himself once again, just as it was in the Garden of Eden. He made me, He redeemed me, and even see's me as righteous in His sight - the most amazing thing about all this is that I don't deserve it (none of us do) and He didn't have to take my punishment or yours but rather He chose to. That my friend is the ultimate act kindness, and the most amazing display of love and affection one could ever hope for.
This year, I will not resolve to set my affections and heart on meaningless resolutions. My heart is set on knowing Jesus, the One who made me, Who rescued me, and the One whom I will spend an eternity with when my time on earth here is done.
My resolution is not to study about Jesus but to commune with Him because He is Emmanuel, He is God with us. We don't have to wait to get to Heaven to meet Him, He is calling us to know Him now. The God of the universe is calling us simple ones to lay aside the distractions of the world and to spend our time on earth getting to know Him through His Word and to make His Word known. Jesus is the best gift and the fullest joy we could ever know. In Him is Peace, in Him is Joy, in Him is Eternal Life, and in Him - He makes all things new.
Do you know Him?
Visit
www.areugoodenough.org to find out more.
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