2012 Resolved

As this year comes to a close and the New Year begins, people around the world will be in full celebration.  I have often thought it a strange practice to revel over the passing of one year and the beginning of another.  I suppose it has more to do with the secular world being relieved that they successfully made it through the previous year, rather than rejoicing that God has given us more time on this earth.

Whatever the reason, streets around the world will be filled with partyers drunk on the fruit of the vine and the idea that the resolutions they have made will be fulfilled, making the New Year more prosperous and giving them a better life than the year before.

Looking back on 2011, there is much that could be grumbled about.  In 2008, the citizenry had naively voted in a President that promised "change," but the "change" that came was not what most expected - or wanted, for that matter.  As the worldwide economy continued its downward spiral, 2011 proved that the ideology that Obama brought to Washington D.C. would only compound the problem here in the United States.   Jobs were lost, unemployment soared, savings dwindled, and homes were foreclosed upon.  Political squabbling became the norm as we watched those who had created the mess unsuccessfully attempt to undo it.

Prices continued to rise, unrest and wars escalated in the Arab nations under the ruse of "democracy," and men turned on each other in the form of class warfare that was being perpetuated by the current Administration and tearing this nation apart.  Capitalism, that had built this nation, was under attack.   Socialism and Marxism were slowly being introduced and accepted by the ignorant mainstream who were struggling to keep their heads above water and fearful of tomorrow, viewing those more fortunate or industrious as wicked and greedy.

Although some, including myself, had legitimate gripes, protests and violence broke out across the nation.  Stirred up by outside influence with an agenda to bring down capitalist America, the altruistic and agenda-driven liberal left rounded up the uneducated and uninformed and squatted in filthy and dangerous encampments.  The have-nots wanted to take down those who did have, with the exception of a elite "few" that they deemed worthy of keeping theirs.  Slowly but surely, the bloated Federal government is sucking Americans dry, stifling industry, discouraging risk, robbing citizens of their rights, and instilling a mindset in the complacent and apathetic that it knows what is best for them and will take care of their needs.

This all sounds pretty dismal, doesn't it?  It sure has given us plenty to gripe and grumble about.  Considering all that I mentioned above, it is no wonder that people will be celebrating the end of 2011 as the ball drops at midnight in Times Square, New York.  They are hoping that 2012 will bring a renewal of hope and prosperity and allow them to forget about their worries and woes.  But, all pessimism aside, I am betting that the things of 2011 were only the beginning of trouble and that mankind's grumbling and complaining will only grow worse as the problems in the world are carried forward into the new year.

I am just as guilty as the next for whining about my life and the perception I have for the things it lacks.  This past year, I have fought envy over others and what they have and I don't, hatred for the world and its depravity, and a multitude of other unhealthy emotions.  I certainly didn't gain anything by thinking or behaving that way.  In fact, I would say with all conviction that I lost out on a great deal, wasting my time looking at the world and grumbling about it instead of knowing God is still in absolute control and counting the things that He has blessed me with in 2011.

I'm not hungry.  He has filled my stomach.

I'm not homeless.  He has provided a roof over my head.

I'm not alone.  He has surrounded me with family and friends to be loved by and to return my love upon them.

And I am sure that if I took the time and you weren't bored into leaving, I could continue to write an endless list of things to be thankful for.

However, the greatest gift God has given me is Himself.

I will go so far as to say that when you have Jesus Christ in your life, He faithfully provides for you in ways we refuse to comprehend.  Although we don't see it this way, nothing else is needed.  I have learned the hard way that all of my grumbling and complaining is sinful and that an attitude adjustment was in order.

When we gripe and complain, we are telling Him that we are not grateful for the things He has given us.  We become like the Israelites wandering in the desert, never mindful of the constant "cloud" in the daytime that hovers protectively over us and the "pillar of fire" in the nighttime that leads us through the darkness of this world (Exodus 13).  He causes water to "spring" up to quench our thirst for Him and feeds us His "manna," the Word of God, through faithful shepherds like my own.  And when we feel as though His well or His table is emptying, He refills them, satisfying our hunger and thirst and strengthening us to finish well this race we call "life."

My beloved Pastor Paul Guay recently reminded and convicted me of how unfruitful my grumbling can be.  In his sermon on Philippians 2:17-18, Paul preached on his namesake, Apostle Paul's, letter to the people and how his desire was that they would "joy to share in the midst of sorrow."  Although the apostle was facing a certain death, he asked the Philippians to rejoice with him, even as he was being "poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice" and to share that joy with others.  Pounding home the meat (or gristle, as my sister, Dana, called it), Pastor Paul exhorted his listeners that we are to share not only in the suffering of others, but also in their joy.  And we are to do it exceedingly so, for we "enhance" each others joy when we do, becoming the sharers of God's grace and mercies that are shed so broadly upon all of us.  

If we attempt to flee from and avoid suffering as the world does (and which we all have done at some point in our lives), we are avoiding profound joy in being found worthy to offer ourselves in sacrifice to God.  What more could we do for Jesus who was so "violently torn asunder" for the sins we have committed in order that we would not have to suffer the Father's wrath?  How selfish we are in our suffering and joy by not sharing it.  As Philippians 1:19-20 reveals, our greatest joy comes from our greatest suffering because, as the Apostle Paul so clearly demonstrates, the reward for doing so will be unequaled.  The day we stand before our King and LORD  Jesus Christ and cast our crowns at His pierced feet will be a day of rejoicing unlike any we have ever experienced.

As the year 2011 comes to a close and 2012 begins, I am more determined to grumble less and rejoice more.  We have no clue what will come in the following months.  But one thing we do know is that God is still God, even in times of trouble and tribulation.  He is still LORD of the universe, holding dominion over all of creation.  Whatever man may bring upon the world will never diminish that truth.

Therefore, my hope for 2012 lies in Jesus Christ and what He has promised me.  With His help, I will grumble less and rejoice with exceeding gladness, knowing that a day will come when we will truly know peace and prosperity. 

To all my readers, may you be resolved in this New Year to continue to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, of Him crucified, risen, and seated at the right hand of the Father.  And may you also share in each others suffering and joy as we patiently await His glorious return!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Blog Jumping

Children in Chibanzi

Thanks for dropping by!  If you failed to find what you were looking for, or have already read through nearly two years of postings, I have another suggestion.

I recently posted a new article on my other blog, Wongani's Hope, that addresses the current and future needs Beka and Anna have in serving the LORD in Malawi, Africa.  If you haven't yet been there to read the wonderful story of how God is working through these two amazing women, it will only take one click to jump you from this blog to the other and only in a matter of seconds.

Blog jumping can be fun in our search for meaningful posts and like-minded individuals, so I hope you will hover your mouse over Wongani's Hope and click on it.  It's a quick journey, and its one that I am sure you will find rewarding on the other end.

Once you are there, look on the right hand side of the page for "Beka's Story" and the chronological listing from the beginning to the present below the title.  Then get yourself a cup of your choice, sit back, put your feet up, and begin reading.  I am betting that as you progress through the story, you will be anxious to read the next post to see the evidence of God's grace and providence.

When you are done, leave Beka and Anna a comment.  I know they would love to hear from you and that you are praying for them and the children of Malawi.  Then become a "follower" of the blog and watch as Wongani's Hope becomes a reality, for the glory and honor of God.

What are you waiting for?  Get that mouse moving and start blog jumping!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

A Man After Malachi

As Christmas approaches us, our tendency is to concentrate on the preparations, rather than the reason we celebrate it.  Lists of  card and gift recipients are written.  Frustration over what to buy certain individuals consumes us.  Decorations are brought out and dusted off and days are spent setting up the icons and doodads that represent this holiday season.  Plans are made for the feast that will be served on Christmas day and, in the meanwhile, candies, sweets, and treats begin to pile up on every corner of the counter top, threatening to add those extra pounds that eating them brings.

Don't be mistaken.  I love the Christmas season and see nothing wrong with making preparations for it, including putting up a tree.  The sights and smells along with the excitement in the air bring back memories of my childhood.  I look back with longing for the times I spent preparing the festivities for my children and my grandchildren, waiting with great anticipation to see them gather around my tree and watch their expressions as they opened the gifts I had spent hours purchasing and wrapping.  These are memories that are dear and precious to me and I will always treasure them.

But when I think about the years that I did not fully understand why we celebrate this season, I am reminded of the greatest gift I failed to give them and often wish I could turn back the clock and re-do all of the Christmas's where Jesus Christ was not fully represented as He should have been.  I wonder with awe over the emotions that came over me as I listened to the songs written about Him and gazed at the twinkling lights on the  tree - even though I didn't know Him then.  I am sure that past Christmas's would have been much different if I had known Him completely as I do now, and the appreciation for all the hard work done in preparation for that day would have been greater.

When I think about it, we are not much different than the Israelites were in their forgetfulness during seasons of celebration.  As time went on, God's chosen people moved farther away from the true meaning of their existence and what was expected of them.  They exchanged their relationship with the LORD for one of complacency and apathy, mingling with the pagan world and disregarding His will for them.  Intentionally overlooking the real meaning of worship and service to God, the people ate and drank without forethought, failing to remain mindful of the reason for their festivities and rituals and the solemnity that should have preceded them.

Over four hundred years before God sent His Son into this world as a lowly babe, He spoke through His prophets one final time.  In the book of Malachi, God warned the priests and the people of their unfaithfulness to Him.  During the daily sacrifice, the priests had presented "polluted" and imperfect food, sick, blind and lame animals not even fit for their "governors," let alone the King of the universe.  God's condemnation for this offense was great as He thundered His accusations of their unfaithfulness towards Him, cursing them for breaking the Levitical covenant He had made with Aaron (Num. 3:44-48; 18:8-24; Deut. 33:8-11).  The priests were not only intended to represent the people before God, but also to represent God and the law of Moses before the people, and they had failed miserably.

One would think that after hearing the accusations, the priests would have mourned and repented.  But as Malachi so clearly reveals, with the exception of a few who heeded God's warnings, they whined about and questioned His charges, denying the grievances of wrong-doing He was bringing against them.

Unlike other prophets who revealed the future coming of Messiah (see Isaiah 53 for the most astounding example), Malachi leaps across centuries to "The Great Day of the LORD" in his final chapter when God will avenge His name and His honor.  Although it appears God used Malachi as His last messenger, the ending verses speak of another man whom God will choose and who will announce the arrival of the greatest gift God has given to mankind (Is 40:3-5; Matt 3:1-3).  John the Baptist, the man chosen to herald the coming of the long-awaited King and Messiah, would prepare the Way for God's entry into the world to save men from their sins in one final and glorious sacrifice.

The sacrifice that was to come would rival the most perfect sacrificial lamb to be found amongst the people's flocks and laid upon God's altar.  Unlike the imperfect animals brought before God by the priests in Malachi's day, this Lamb would be spotless and unpolluted, defining perfection to the utmost degree.  God would demonstrate to the people what a true sacrifice was intended to be and one that would bring Him the greatest honor and glory.

The animal sacrifices made to God prior to this final sacrifice were not able to cleanse man completely and forever of his sin.  The ritual  had to be performed daily in order for God's mercies and providence to continue.  But this Lamb would once and for all do what the others were unable to do.  The blood that would spill from its veins upon the sacrificial altar would be shed for the sins of mankind, once and for all, its efficacy completely satisfying the requirements demanded by God, restoring His relationship with His children, and giving them life eternal. 

This is what Christmas is all about.  It's not about the festivities, the gifts, the food, the revelry, and everything else that is defined by the world.  Although these things have their place in our celebration, the season is about a Man who was chosen before time began to become the sacrificial Lamb of God.  And it just so happens that His birth and the circumstances surrounding it happened exactly as the prophets who spoke for God said it would.

Although God remained quiet for over four hundred years following Malachi's scorching condemnation for the unworthy sacrifices the priests brought Him, God spoke one final time through His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, "God with us."  Jesus would tell of all the wonders of God and reveal to men His divine and holy nature.  He would heal the deaf and the blind, the lame and the sick, and teach man the Way to eternal life.

There are many theories about when Jesus knew or understood the reason for His entry into the world.  Some say He had awareness as a baby from the beginning.  Others say that awareness did not come until later in His life.  I have often wondered about this myself and have a tendency to lean towards the first theory.  But one thing we do know is that everything He did moved Him closer to His ultimate destination.  He began in a manger for all men to wonder about and walked willingly to the cross to fulfill the Father's perfect plan of redemption and eternal salvation.

When you look at the nativity scene that most likely is placed in a position of prominence in your home, take the baby Jesus from the feed crib and see Him as a man on the cross.  His birth is, indeed, a magnificent and glorious gift to all mankind.  But it was on the cross that the perfect sacrifice was made, and the benefit of Him willingly spilling His blood to atone for our sins reveals the greater gift.

After you have seen Him on the cross, see Him as your risen Savior seated at the right hand of God in all His beautiful glory and perfection (Luke 22:69; Mark 16:19; Acts 7:56; Heb. 1:3). Once you have done this, the Christmas season will hold greater  meaning for you.  The decorations, the food, and the gifts placed under your tree will have more significance and your heart will be better prepared to celebrate our LORD'S birth. 

Merry Christmas, everyone!  May it be filled with the presence of His Holy Spirit and His outpouring of love upon your family.  And may you and yours worship Him in humbleness as you celebrate this season, remembering that God did not forever remain silent after Malachi.  Four hundred years later, He brought us His eternal Word and a perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God, our blessed Savior and King Jesus the Messiah.  And, 2,000 years later, we His children continue to celebrate in remembrance of that day with rejoicing and gladness.

May God bless us all with His Holy presence and pour out His grace upon the world. 

And to our blessed Savior Jesus Christ who was born in the city of Bethlehem while the shepherds watched, the angels sang, and heaven rejoiced:  may He receive all the glory, the honor, and the praise, both now and forevermore!