NEW AND IMPROVED

“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?” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Just a few months before, he publicly announced that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer. Then after a series of radiation treatments and undoubtedly a great deal of prayer, he was later able to state that he was cancer-free. Now the former President of the United States, standing in the presence of members of his church, delivered the news that his 28-year-old grandson had passed away the day before. Although visibly shaken – our thirty-ninth President, Jimmy Carter, then went on to teach the Sunday School lesson he had prepared. Known to be a devout Christian, he urged the congregation to “be filled with a sense of joy and thanksgiving” despite his own personal family tragedy. What did the former President recognize that many others do not? Maybe he understood the full impact of the message of the Apostle Paul when he said, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).

Did you ever notice how many people seem to be going through a tough time in their lives at Christmas? I have often wondered whether things happen with greater frequency or if our sensitivity to care just increases at this time of the year. In the midst of the holiday cheer – going through difficult situations can be very frightening and disconcerting, especially for those who do not truly understand “the reason for the season.” When we are faced with having to let go of the comfort and familiarity of what we know, feelings of depression and loss of hope can surface as we are challenged by the prospect of having to embrace the unknown. But there is a new beginning that we will come to regard as a blessing — sometimes unde­s­erved, but always welcome. If we have journeyed to the manger this Christmas, we found it in the presence of the Christ child who came to earth to offer Himself as a living sacrifice for each of us. We come to understand: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Our society offers a vision that many times clouds the judgment of an already confused world. In a variety of forums, advertisers try to fool us with catchphrases like “New and Improved.” How can that be? If something is new, we have not experienced it before.  If it is improved, then it’s just a revision of what already existed. It cannot be both. There is only one presence who can make that claim, and He is reflected in the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah. Through His gift of salvation, He offers us a New Covenant as He becomes a living sacrifice for our sinfulness. And He promises that there will come a day in which “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:4-5).

At the beginning of a calendar year, some people make resolutions. Perhaps you are one of those. For many, the start of a new year seems to be a time to wipe the slate clean. We vow to give up bad habits, go on a diet, or otherwise change our ways. Let’s face it; resolutions can only go so far. The heartache and pain that many folks feel at this time of year are not going to somehow instantly change by the flipping of a page on their planner. At the threshold of the New Year, let us make our first resolution to hear those words of extraordinary promise which began in a manger in Bethlehem. Then we will experience a precious transformation leading to new hope, new joy, and new life. Henry Ward Beecher once said, “Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page.”  Like Jimmy Carter, I think he understood the true essence of the fact that ‘new and improved’ can only be found when we invite Jesus to take up residence in our hearts and in our homes so that we can indeed begin anew.

REFLECTION: How will you make sure that Jesus is part of each day of the New Year?  If you know someone who is having a difficult time, in what ways can you help them find purpose?  How might you lead them on a path to Jesus for a new and improved life?

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1 thought on “NEW AND IMPROVED

  1. pelicanflies

    Nearly every first day of the new year I made my resolution, but I always failed within six months. I think I have to develop a habit of making my resolution every early morning for each day.

    Thank you for sharing your post.

    Pelicanflies

    Reply

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