The Challenge Of A New Year

In Joshua 3:1-11 we are told that as Joshua and the people of Israel stood on the brink of Jordan, they faced a new beginning. The generation of their forefathers who had fallen in the wilderness because of disobedience was now history. Moses, the great leader of the fledgling nation, had been given a private funeral and burial on the mountain by Jehovah. Their new leader, Joshua, was the man of the hour as he stood ready to lead them into the land promised to their forefathers. God’s presence was symbolized by the Ark of the Covenant that would go before them. Joshua challenges them to go in and possess the land. Joshua tells of the wonders God will perform and reminds them of the victory promised to those who would walk faithfully, courageously and obediently into the new land. His statement, "You have not passed this way before," seems to sum up the challenge involved in stepping out by faith into a new and unknown land. There will be vast uncharted waters ahead. There will be many new and unexplored paths to walk. There will be risks be faced, challenges to be confronted and a high price to be paid, if success is to be achieved in the new land.

As we see the old year out and usher the New Year in, we should understand that we stand on the verge of a new spiritual venture; a new calling to serve the Lord in the land of a new year. In a sense, the challenge of a new year is like stepping out on the beautiful, sparkling, trackless surface of new fallen snow. It is like standing on the edge of the fresh sand of a wave swept beach. Or a child contemplating a clean sheet of paper or a clean slate. All are free of the contaminating touch of man. There’s an old bit of verse that speaks of this challenge:

He came to my desk with quivering lip, the lesson was done.

"Have you a new leaf for me, dear Teacher?, I’ve spoiled this one."

I took his leaf all soiled and blotted and gave him a new one, all unspotted.

Then into his tired heart I smiled, Do better now my child."

I went to the throne with trembling heart. The year was done.

"Have you a new year for me, dear Master? I’ve spoiled this one.

He took my heart, all soiled and blotted and gave me a new one, all unspotted.

Then into my tired heart he smiled; "Do better now my child."

Yes, we are like a those who walk in a new land. We have not passed this way before. Our footprints are yet to be made in the sands of time of the New Year. Yet it is a great blessing to know that as we ring out the old and ring in the new, we can immerse the failures of yesteryear in the sea of God’s forgiveness. We can face with a great expectant faith the challenges of a new year. By the grace of God, if He wills it, we can cross over boldly into the land of the new year with an expectant faith based upon the precious promises of God.

A Christmas Message

Why has the story of the wise men who traveled far and brought gifts to the baby Jesus come to represent real wisdom throughout the ages? It’s unlikely these wise men were university graduates with Ph.D.’s. We have no record of their academic pedigree, yet we know they were wise men. Their wisdom is not necessarily reflected by the enormity of their intellect or accumulative knowledge, but by their simple act of seeking to know and worship Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

So it is today. Many in our world are seeking many things. Some seek riches, and upon accumulating them, find the need to accumulate more an all consuming passion. They finally conclude that there are not enough riches in the whole universe to satisfy man’s desire for more affluence.  Inevitably, at the end of life’s way, they find the acquisition of riches has no eternal value or significance.
The words of our Saviour about the temporal nature of riches are all too apt. No matter how much a man may accumulate, when he leaves this world he leaves it all behind. As someone said, “Have you ever seen a hearse pulling a trailer?” Those seeking fortune always find it cannot buy the simplest joy or real happiness.  Some seek fame, and upon achieving it, find the fleeting fragility of fame and fortune. Just a surface survey of the tragic stories of some recent and contemporary politicians, entertainers and entrepreneurs, will easily confirm the illusory nature of imagined fulfillment through fame and fortune.

How many spend their last days amid the ashes of decaying memories of fleeting moments spent in the fading spotlight of public adulation and popularity? It is sometimes sad to see how the mighty have fallen as a result of man’s cruel propensity to cut down the tall poppies.  Some seek power as the ultimate high of human experience. Only those who have experienced power over the lives of others can really know how seducing this temptress can be. As it is said, “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts, absolutely.” But one only has to consider the end of some of the most powerful men of history to realize the futility of such seeking. Nebuchadnezzar, the Ceasers, Hitler and more recently, the tyrants of the totalitarian communist world, vividly demonstrate the vanity of the quest for ultimate power.  But others, real wise men such as these, seek Christ. Real wise men seek Him as the eternal God of eternal spiritual salvation. After all, it was the Christmas angel that said, “They shall call His name, Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sin.” When real wise men bow their knee before Him in true repentance and faith, they discover eternal and abundant life in all its fullness
and eternal significance. Why not be wise and seek Him with all your heart during this Christmas Season?

A Blessed And Joyful Christmas And
A Happy And Prosperous New Year
From The White’s House To Yours!

Making Room For Jesus

The world has always marveled at the paradox of the Creator of this universe being born in a lowly manger. But instead of condemning the inn keeper for saying, "There is no room in my inn," perhaps we should remember that he did show compassion for the tired travelers. After all, he was asked to entertain royalty unaware on that first Christmas Eve.
But what a great blessing he missed! Perhaps he thought there were many "more important" people in his inn. The worldly elite and VIPS would all soon be gone and forgotten. But the busy inn keeper had turned away the Eternal God of the universe. Opportunity passed him by. Instead of being remembered as the man who seized his moment in history, he became just another footnote to the folly of leaving the Lord out of one's life.
But does our world respond any differently today? In the mindless milling of the masses and the maddening crowd in the market places of our world, how many pause to consider the place of prominence Jesus should have in the observance of His birthday? In the frantic rushing, pushing and shoving that characterizes the season, who will pause to peruse the priority He should have in the affairs of men? Does the world have any more room for Jesus today than did the lowly innkeeper of long ago?
Thousands of invitations and gospel messages have gone out this Christmas Season. We have joined our voices to the great chorus of Christians who will literally beg and implore millions to make room in their heart for Jesus the Savior of the world. But sadly, millions will still say, "We have no room for Him! " Perhaps there has never been a time when people are more powerfully proclaiming by word and deed that they have no room for Jesus in the affairs of family, community or culture.
But Christmas without Christ is like an engine without fuel. This birthday without the only begotten is like a banquet without bread. This holiday without the high and holy is like the heavens without stars. This celebration without spiritual elaboration upon the God of salvation is like an ocean without water. This season without the reason is like a garden without flowers. Without the Christ of Christmas people at best only exist.
Is there room in your heart for the Christ of Christmas? He will only come into the hearts and lives of those who invite Him. Those who really make room for Jesus this Christmas are those who receive the Christ of Christmas into their hearts and homes the whole year through - and eternally. The Bible says, "But as many as receive Him, to them gave He the power to become the Sons of God, even to those who believe on His Name. "