THOUGHTS AT YEAR’S END!

THOUGHTS AT YEAR’S END!

Hab 3:17-19

17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.

          The Old Year lifts his lamp and leans upon his scythe. He entered with great anticipation of hope and change and the realities of life have mistreated him terribly. We have nearly exhausted the year 2013 and at this time we often review the best and worst of happenings. When we think of the year nearly gone we experience extreme feelings of fear, disappointment and disgust.

Nationally, Americans have a president who, in his first four years, has managed to rule without passing a budget! Congress is no better at leading and our best hope is for political stalemate. It seems that every law passed is yet another chip at our foundation. Morally, we have made legal homosexual marriages and the recreational smoking of marijuana. The killing of unborn babies goes on apace and we seem to prefer wrong over right at every opportunity. The expression of divergent thoughts and lifestyles are everywhere applauded unless, of course, they are expressions of Christian faith.

Churches have morphed into entertainment centers which target human emotions instead of salvation stations which convert the lost. Pastors clamor to incorporate the latest craze into their worship services and can hardly hold church without bright lights and smoke machines. Denominational, and even doctrinal, distinctive have intentionally been abandoned in favor of a soup-slurry of blended beliefs that demand nothing from followers. “Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.” (Ps 55:19) The result is a vagabond worshipper who visits these religious entertainment centers hoping to experience the latest sensation. There is no loyalty to anything but self.

          Habakkuk finishes his book with a thin-lipped pledge. He tells of failed crops and a ruined harvest. He complains of depleted stores and lean times. The flock has been cut off either by poor leadership or disease and the feed lot is empty of beeves. The expectation of hope and change had died.

          Yet he begins verse 17 with the word “although!” The word means “nevertheless” and first considers then ignores the consequent realities to look forward with great hope. There it is again – hope – but more than hope. It is faith with determination because it is not poorly placed upon the promises of some political figure. It is trust in a God who sits upon the circle of the earth and hangs the stars upon nothing!

Heb 6:17-19

17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

18 That by two immutable [unchangeable] things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil…

Ps 62:2

2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

          Our hope is in the Lord and our change will surely come. Our confidence is not pinned upon the breast of politics, world economics, nor military conquests. Our light shines from the Sun of Righteousness and our feet are firmly planted upon the cornerstone of God. We shall not be greatly moved.

Dear Lord, you have carried us safely through another year and we look to you as we face a new one. We can’t know what lies ahead but we rejoice to know the One who knows the end from the beginning. AMEN