Happy New Year!! Out with the old and in with the new. A New Year and a new chance to get it right. Three days into 2017 and the sayings are already passe’ with many people. What SHOULD you take away from 2016 and what should you take INTO 2017?
If hindsight is 20-20, it should be easy to know what to leave behind and what to replicate in a new year. We have a tendency to look at end results and judge them according to OUR plans and needs. Then we try and duplicate an outcome by replicating some behaviors and deleting others. We define that as being wise and learning from the past. Sounds good at first blush, but are we getting it right? Are we listening to what God said and did in 2016 or the outcomes we liked and disliked?
Christ spoke to this in Matthew 11:25. “At that time Jesus said to them, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.'” The wise He spoke to were arrogant in their own knowledge. The little children were humble and open to receive the truth of God’s Word.
This is the story. “Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ‘Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgement than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgement than for you.'” Matthew 11:20-24.
Jesus was speaking to the fact that there is greater punishment for those with greater knowledge who do not change their actions. He referenced an earlier generation who were punished because they did not listen, understand and repent for their arrogance. He was telling the current audience they had no excuse because the Son of God was performing miracles right in front of them. They were given more truth and therefore messed it up even worse. Jesus said they would suffer greater punishment than those who had not seen him in the flesh.
Fast forward to 2017. We have numerous Bibles in every home, 2-3 services each Sunday and studies almost every day of the week. Don’t forget the Holy Spirit who lives in and speaks to each believer. If the people Jesus was talking to would suffer greater punishment than those of Sodom because they had firsthand knowledge, I’m pretty sure we need to take more than 5 minutes to understand 2016 and look ahead into 2017.
Now this is where some folks say they do “believe” and the analogy is not for them. A New Year is a line of demarcation to try and understand what we saw last year and what we want the new one to look like. It’s a good time to make sure our actions align with our faith and beliefs and not just our living standards and pocketbooks. Are we living for a prosperity theology at the expense of a little discipline, pain and suffering?
Too often pain and suffering are avoided at all costs. We want pleasant and rewarding results here and now. Short term pain for long term gain is a catchy phrase that has a shelf life as we peer into 2017. The book of 1st Peter is FULL of reminders and encouragement regarding suffering. “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering as though something strange were happening to you.” 4:12. “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving for you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” 2:21.
Adversity can be a sign of discipline. Prosperity is not always a sign of God’s blessing. It’s difficult to know when discipline comes from God UNTIL we look back. The coup d’etat is Proverbs 3:11-12, “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”
Before we keep on keep’n on into 2017 because 2016 was a good year (or not), let’s stop and make sure we aren’t living to avoid pain and suffering. Make sure your goals are not just monetary, retirement oriented or a standard of living. Proverbs 3:5-7 reminds us to not lean on our OWN understanding…to acknowledge what HE is trying to do as opposed to what we are trying to do…and to not be wise in our own eyes, but to fear the Lord and shun evil. At times this may look like a pay cut, hanging out with different people, leaving a job, a lifestyle change or staying with a spouse you’ve grown away from. To the American Christian, pain and suffering.
We need a better theology and understanding of pain and suffering. Why? “For it is time for judgement to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” 1st peter 4:17. It’s not just about making 2017 a better year. Our years are about letting the Holy Spirit make us better people. That always involves pain and suffering.
While the year is still fresh, stop and reflect on what God is doing and has done in and through you in 2016. Seek His wisdom with the humility of a little child. Set your resolutions and expectations according to your faith. Don’t ignore the truth you know at the expense of simply making 2017 a happy and prosperous New Year.