Looking back and looking forward

We are inching closer to the end of another eventful year with some of us still wondering, “What! So fast! It seemed just like yesterday that we began the New Year.” As 2015 rushes past us and as we are ushered in to another new year with no idea of what is in store for us, there are things that have happened this year that has shaken us, tugged at our hearts and few things that have  encouraged us but most of it has been shocking, disturbing and painful.

Unimaginable violence, bloodshed and destruction to the scale that has not been witnessed since the last world war has passed before our eyes as if in a silver screen. Hatred, intolerance and fanaticism is alarmingly rising in societies that has lived in harmony and togetherness for decades. Millions of people have been killed in wars, terrorism and violence mainly related to religion and fundamentalism last year. Thousands have been uprooted and displaced from their countries and their homes to become refugees fleeing to unknown countries with their lives and with whatever little they could lay their hands on.  Thousands of innocent children who are caught in the cross fire have been orphaned, injured and maimed for no fault of theirs. The over exploitation and rampant destruction that we have done to the environment in the name of development has only increased the number of natural disasters and calamities striking back with a vengeance one after other in different parts of the world.

Yet through all this there have been events that have shown us glimpses of grace and kindness, rays of hope and love. In different corners of the world we have seen humanity rise up when faced with an adversity to reach out with amazing solidarity and love for their fellow human beings irrespective of all the man made division and  barriers of religion, class, caste or language.  Be it in countries opening up their borders and reaching out to the influx of refugees and welcoming them or where fellow sufferers affected by a flood or earthquake rising up voluntarily and mobilizing rescue and relief and helping the affected people, we see glimpses of it around us.

As we look forward to the New Year there are apprehension’s and fears of what is in store for us. Will this be a better one than last year, will there be peace and stability around us, and will the New Year bring prosperity and joy? These are anxious questions that are running around in our minds. Well, with everything around us changing and being in a constant flux we can predict or guarantee nothing.

But what give us immense courage, hope and confidence despite the ominous dark clouds and the gathering storm around us is that there are few things that are constant and unchanging. We can look forward to the New Year with bright hope and great expectation because of these three constants:

The Word of God – The eternal and unchanging word of God says, in the Gospel of Mathew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away” Whatever may happen around us, be it the greatest disaster or deluge or even if the very foundation of the earth may shake, one thing that we can hold on in the new year with all our confidence is the word of God. That never changes come what may.

The Rock of Ages - Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8) who is our rock of ages, our eternal and immutable God is with us forever. He has promised that whatever happens around us be it the greatest disaster or the worst storm that will ever hit us, Jesus says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deut 31:6) and “Surely I will be with you even to the very end of age”. (Mat 28:20). What more assurance do we need!

The Promises of God – That is one secure place that we can stand on as we look forward to the New Year. Bible says in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen.” He is a promise keeping God and we can confidently approach His throne of grace based on what Christ has done for us on the cross and appropriate all His promises for our lives.

As we prepare our hearts during this season of Christmas remembering the event that happened 2000 years back, when the God of this universe stepped out of eternity, into space and time and chose to become one like His creation so that we could become like Him, His sons and daughter’s let us also look forward to the new year holding on to this three unchanging elements.