Who Would Have Thought
That 2008 would be coming to an end. Folks are often heard to say: "This Year flew by!" It does seem like time is speeding up.
Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher, observed that it is impossible to put your foot in the water twice at the same place. Whatever has been in 2008 is past. Only a few days to go to finish 2008, and we start a new calendar. Not a repeat, but a New Year!
A few wise heads told us that the bubble had to burst. Most folks did not believe it. Times were too good. It is hard to get a drunk man to recognize the value of being sober. With credit cards in our wallets and life flush with pleasure, who wanted to hear that we could lose trillions in home values, trillions in retirement benefits, and millions of jobs?
Greedy countries and speculators selling oil to rich Americans elevated prices. The economy stalled. News media hyped the political election until our country and the existing administration was made to look inept. The unfortunate result is that conditions have been created delivering an almost impossible mandate to new leadership.
The road ahead is treacherous. No man in any position will be able to satisfy the whims, appetites, lusts, values, greed, ad infinitum, of nations of peoples who so recently thought they were building Babel to Heaven.
Who would have thought that the day would come that being President of the United States would bear/include the burden of setting values, being Commander-in-Chief of armed forces, presiding over the world's economy, providing jobs for Americans, and maintaining the health and well-being for every home? It is a long question. The answer is longer. Many churches and religious leaders are deferring to politicians to make moral choices that have historically being the reserved for the domain of the sacred.
This I am sure: Our country needs prayer. Our churches need prayer. Our missionaries need prayer. Our homes need prayer. Our President, and President-To-Be, need prayer.
While we cannot put our foot in the river twice at the same place, there are many who have cautioned us that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. More bluntly said: Only fools fail to learn from history.
We will not be caught at the river dipping our foot in trying to revisit nostalgia from the past. God is neither dead nor on vacation. In fact, Isaiah 43:18, 19 insist that God warns against those who think the best was yesterday. It is not that we do not have good memories of the past. However, to say yesterday was better is to imply that God was more wonderful yesterday.
The goodness and holiness of God is a constant, not a variable in yo-yo evolution with a man-made calendar. There is no time in heaven. No night. No day. No rising or setting of the sun or moon.
So, I say, if you been playing footsie at the river, wanting to go back, get your foot out of the water. Either grab a paddle and row, or find dry land and run. God is up to new things. God says he can make deserts into fertile farms. He says He can make fountains and streams of water in dry places.
I preach no silly gospel. Have never advocated feel-good, get-rich-quick-faith-schemes. I am not into snake oil and magic potent. At Covenant we preach Christ, crucified, buried, risen, ascended, and coming again!
We believe the Lord has brought us together for His glory for this time. We commit ourselves to the future with enthusiasm and courage. The best is yet to come. He will come!
The Year of 2009 is a Year of Opportunity. We will find people at their point of need and share the power and hope of Jesus.
Pastor Bare
Isaiah 43:18-19 "do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?"