What Will the New Year Bring?

This week we have no doubt sent wishes for a Happy New Year to those near and far. We have received such good wishes ourselves. Every new year holds elements of surprise and wonder and hope as we endeavor to imagine what the year will bring. For those who know Jesus personally, every day of every year comes with joyful promise.

Will we know sadness and disapointment this year? Probably. Will we know heartache? Very possible. Will we experience sickness? It would not be unusual. Will we have financial loss? It happens. Will we experience the loss of someone we love to death? It comes to us all at some point in life. Therefore, we may understandably ask, how does any of the above bring us joyful promise?

There is a verse in Ecclesiastes 7:8 that tells us, the day of death is better than the day of birth (NIV). Upon first reading this, we may experience a jolt, until we understand God’s love and wonderful plan for all who know Him. You see, while we journey through our days on earth, when we experience sadness and grief, material loss, or the pain of separation through death — the promise of Jesus is, Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matt.11:28), or For with God nothing will be impossible (Luke 1:37), or The joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10. There are numerous such promises that encourage and give hope. But what about death is better than the day of birth?

Think of Jesus. On earth He endured ridicule, betrayal, torture and death, but was that the end? Oh no! It was the door to eternal honor and glory and praise as today He sits at His Father’s right hand. To each of us who knows Jesus personally, when we breathe our last breath on earth, is that the end? Oh no! It’s the beginning of eternal peace and perfect joy, where no tears or sorrow exists, where there is no such thing as sickness or loss of any type.

As you face anything hurtful or hard this new year, remember the promises for both today — Jesus is your everything to get you through anything — and tomorrow — there is a land waiting where only abundant joy is found. We will want for nothing, and death will be no more.

I wish you a happy and blessed new year as you hold on to Jesus. He is our source of all joy and strength and courage, and peace. Remember, too, He could return for each of us this year. Let us be ready, always looking up, everyday living as He leads, waiting for the trumpet sound. Oh what a day that will be!