Perspectives

2 Corinthians 5:20… 6-2… 5:20) We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 6:2) For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. (NIV)

The clock is ticking. You and I are all set to go for another twelve months: We have left the old year behind; all things are new and pure; we have made our plans and all systems are in place. Nobody can stop us; we are into the New Year and we want nothing to do with the Old Year. Sound familiar? Sure, it does, we have all said that many times. But I need to remind myself that God is the Master of time and that I am the slave of time. Time passes so quickly when you are older, and I never seem to have enough time. If only I could add, say, thirty extra minutes into an hour. I would now have another twelve hours in a day, and I could accomplish everything I ever wanted to do. Sounds rather foolish, don’t you think?

We are so keen on the New Year that sometimes we forget the past. Well you say, “The past is past. What we have done is done and there is nothing we can do about it anyway, so you may as well stop making an issue about it.” All right!! I get the point. Some folks who can allow the past to be passed and they have luck on their side. But the past can also trouble us, it can squeeze the joy out of life, and it can enslave us. It can harm us. I remember moments last year when things just did not seem to go the right way, and at that time everything came undone. I remember the fear I felt in my heart. I remember the time when I was hurt by others. How at that moment in time my spirit was crushed to the point of breaking? But then I remembered that God still loved me even when I felt down and out. Oh yes!! Another thing I remembered; He picked me up and re-energized my spirit.

What if I were to tell the clock to stop because I cannot start the New Year unless I clean up some unfinished business left over from 2019? Did you know that your past and my past are not dead at all? The past is what is driving you and me right now. It has molded us and formed the way we think, for good or bad…

Have you ever said, “This year I will have more time to do the things that are important to me?” But the old saying, “Tomorrow never comes” takes over and shapes our agenda. At this point I find all sorts of excuses to wait until tomorrow to do that which I should do today. The most important thing that I need to do today is take care of all the unresolved situations from last year. Ask yourself this question, “Should I contact, you know who to make things right?” Do I need to confess to God my past sins and then ask the Holy Spirit to give me the power to stay away from those things I know are wrong for me to do? Our Scripture lesson says, “Today is the day of salvation.” The “day of salvation” should never be thrown into yesterday’s forgotten bin. It should be lived out now, in the present, this very moment, so that we can live by grace.

As Ambassadors for Christ, we are encouraged to reach out to those who do not have the same opportunities that we have enjoyed. What pulls at our inner being is that very often they feel no debt of gratitude? Not because they have not the ability, but because they will not try, because they have forgotten the love that gave them so much. That is what breaks the hearts of those willing to help. However, when God gives us all His grace and we foolishly go our way and frustrate that grace, we break the heart of Christ… To God Be the Glory Great Things He Has Done.

Would you pray this prayer with me…? “Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I want my life to change. My thoughts and my attitude need to change. I do not have peace in my heart. I really want that peace, joy, and happiness that I long for. Please let the Holy Spirit help me be the kind of Christian that will bring honour to Your Name.” Amen