In the promise of a new start and the glance to better days with a hope for the future, we find our eyes turned to a particular time. We often eagerly await the stroke of midnight as the calendar year advances by one. It is a feast celebrated by most throughout the world! Many take the opportunity to make it count. They propose, celebrate with family and friends, travel, and even cover it in prayer. Yes, since long before we followed the Gregorian calendar, the date of the new year has pricked our attention. Today is the end of the present and a beginning to the future.
Standing in a self checkout aisle at a department store, the lines are full and the wait is moderate. A woman is moving from one machine to the next as she found the first checkout machine she had been directed to was without paper. So as I go to move on to the next available checkout device, she slides her way to it and begins to explain what had happened. With a nod of compliance and a scan of the rest, I continue to wait my turn. It was just a few seconds longer but out of it began an earnest yet brief conversation.
“Are you excited for the new year?” She exclaimed. I smiled and lamented that it was just another day for me. Dina, was her name, said, “it can’t be; it’s a time for the new and a future blessing to come to pass. God has deemed it so.” I listen to her and we exchange a few more thoughts on the new year’s before another important part of the conversation takes place. “What do you need prayer for?” She asked. I thought for a moment, perplexed, because rarely does this happen to me. After taking a moment, I said, “revelation”.
Taking the lead from her, I asked what she needed prayer for. “I would ask that you pray for my husband, as he is unsaved and influencing our kids about a relationship with God. Its impacting my 12-year-old especially.” As I had already packed up and checked out, I waited for Dina to finish her transaction. She walked up, we shared first names, then agreed how timely God had provisioned this encounter and split ways while assuring the other that we would pray for their request.
Ezekiel was a strange character in a strange land at a strange time in God’s book of things. He was often called to show by example what God desired to communicate to His people. He had some of the most vivid visions that one can grasp. Its scope contained the heavens itself and the host of them. How awesome!
But the prophet had to deliver some hard things to a hard nosed people during a hard time. And he did. Ezekiel was shown the vision of the reluctant faith-emptied bride, to put it nicely, in his 16th chapter. He goes on to describe how the chosen vessel had sown herself to others and left the One who caught her. It went on to describe in vivid detail the offense (vs 6-59). But that is when God stepped up again.
In breaking the first covenant He reminds His bride, “yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish for you an everlasting covenant (Ezekiel 16: 60).” God goes on to assure His special possession that He will do a new thing so “…you shall know that I am the Lord…, when I atone for you and all that you have done (Ezekiel 16: 62-63).” And this atonement was accomplished in a new way by Jesus taking up His Cross for a guy like me.
Yes, Jesus was chasing His bride the entire time. He gave them prophets and teachers to remind them while He tarried. But when He came, He was not known to them. However, those who did receive Him, He bestowed a heavenly gift upon them and they became born of God (John 1: 11-13).
So this New Year’s Eve, take a moment and realize the One who has been chasing you. He loves you and died for you and broke the restraints of death by rising again on the third day. With the hope of a redeeming promise, let’s start it off with a simple prayer…
Jesus thank you for dying for me. Forgive me for my offenses and make me a new. Fill me with your Spirit and Word! Amen.
Welcome to the new! Jesus loves you and wants to spend the new year with you! Paul said it this way, “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).” As you and I step forward with the new year, know that the old was left in last year and we begin afresh with the new year! Welcome aboard! Share your joy! If you have none to share it with, you can share it here!
Godspeed, The Journeyman
Ps. Today’s story comes from the Father chasing me down at a department store. To remind me, that He was there and this was a time for celebration. I’ll be lifting a drink tonight but also will carry some prayers to Him. I’ve been feeling the need to spend more time with Him. I just know I have to. Happy New Year’s!
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