What I am seeing is a blurry perspective of things. I can't help but wonder why people would even entertain the idea that with the new years comes a fresh start. Basically, I am seeing everyone around me, full of optimism, full of fresh air, simply because its a 2011 and its a new year. This really frustrates me for one reason in particular. Newness of life is available ALL. THE. TIME. To be honest, it troubles me to see and hear people treat the new year with the same sense of relief as paying off a debt. What about repentance? I just do not understand why we as Christians even think this way ... AT ALL! Maybe you are optimistic about the new year because you are harboring the idea that maybe "this is the year that such and such will happen" ... "maybe this year life will be easy." Though, I assure you that upon the dawn of 2012, and with the reflection of 2011 you will realize that life was just as hard as the prior, and with that in mind you will seek the deliverance of 2012. We are capable of so much more than than this arbitrary mindset allows.
As a society we are always searching for something new and fresh. People always entertain their time with the culture. What we have failed to do as a community is to grasp the reality that such things as "newness" are available to us at all times. In fact as the kingdom of God, the body of Christ, His bride, we are in fact called to walk in "newness of life."
"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."-Romans 6:4
This verse is written in the context of dying to sin, and walking in life with God. Maybe this is the problem in this community or "believers"? We just don't such things as repentance and obedience.
"We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him."-Romans 6:6-8
Paul brings those whole thing full table when he says:
"But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness."-Romans 6:17-18
For those who are paying attention the next question will be "How do we know this righteousness?" and I am sure glad you asked!
"About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."-Hebrews 5:11-14
This bit of scripture is written as a warning against apostasy! The writer of Hebrews even points out to his audience that they have "become dull of hearing." This is especially relevant to my point of view and what I see in so many people. But, what is worst is what the writer says about such a thing as being "dull of hearing." He says these people "need milk"and then later says "for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness." He goes on to say that this "solid" food is for the mature, "for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." Where does this power to discern come from? I contend that it comes from God's word.
So in short, lets do as Paul is saying and walk in the newness of life. Lets exercise authority over sin, lets practice obedience in reading God's word daily, let us not allow the things that happen to us in life, that drag us down, to be thrown on to God in a "you did this to me" mindset. Rather, lets enter the mindset that says "Despite what happens, I am yours! My circumstances will not define me, rather, I will find my image in you and ONLY you!"
In light of Hebrews 5 I find it exceedingly encouraging to hear how he continues this thought in Hebrews 6! Let this be a challenge for 2011 and through out the rest of our lives as we work as active participants in the ushering in of the Kingdom of God!
"Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."-Hebrews 6:1-12
Happy New Years! Be renewed!
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