Some Thoughts for the New Year 2020

I’ve been thinking about the year behind us, and especially the year ahead of us. In 2019, it seemed that we had a very short summer, I had some dental issues, and our beloved cat Cleo died. We lost power for 44 hours in October, and I have never before experienced such darkness. Many good things occurred as well: I started an iron-on business to proclaim the Word of God. I make positive inspirational sayings & images that will grab people’s attention. We enjoyed wonderful regular fellowship with our church family. I joined a friendly and helpful Fibre Arts group, and I started sewing again, something I enjoy immensely.  We signed up as volunteers for Youth for Christ doing mostly media projects. I started making YouTube videos as another form of getting the Word out. Check out my first video here: https://youtu.be/QyCdb-FeDZA

We are also planning a trip south. We haven’t traveled much, and there’s many reasons for that. We are very content with the fulfilling life we have where we are. And we feel that this is a great gift of God. We are also called to be and stay where we are, and so God abundantly blesses us when we obey and focus on the ministry He has for us here.

But as we talk to others, it becomes evident that travel is often used as an escape—this greatly concerns me for every Bible-believing confessing Christian. I am reminded of these verses:

1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain.

1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

As we come into the New Year, probably on nearly everyone’s wish/resolution list is to travel somewhere they haven’t been. And so many people are traveling this time of year, and will travel later this year. At times it seems that it is all people talk about, where they’re going and where they’ve been. And it isn’t wrong to travel unless it is for the wrong reason (like anything else we do). But is it right to focus most of one’s energies on it? Not everyone can or will travel. Perhaps the conversation should be steered to a more beneficial one for the hearers?

1Co 6:12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient [suitable or appropriate]: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (Italics mine)

And traveling can be and is addicting as well. It can create a sense of discontentment with our lives, and we will continue to seek the next big adventure. But this is not real life at all. Like the saying goes, “Bloom where you are planted.” God put you where you are for a reason. Is there no one left who lives in your neighbourhood/street/area/suburb/town/city that needs to hear the Gospel and see your good works?

For this New Year and for always, our goal should not be how many places we’ve traveled to. Rather, I am reminded that our purpose down here is to love God and have a personal relationship with Him. This should be our goal. The first commandment is to love Him WITH ALL OUR HEART & SOUL AND MIND (see Matthew 22:37). It’s a TOTAL commitment. It comes before relationships with others, before trips, travel, new houses, cars, or anything else. He is to be our all in all.

Secondly, our focus is to be on our relationships with others —to love our neighbour as ourself (see Matthew 22:38). In fact, we don’t love God if we don’t love our fellow human being.

1Jn 4:20  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

1Jn 4:21  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Loving God first and completely, and sacrificially loving others is where we need to focus our energies, not on how quickly we can escape the daily struggle, the daily routine. Remember the struggle is where we grow, this is where God is working with us, forming His perfect pearl in the shell we are struggling so hard to escape early from. God has a timing, wait for it. Don’t run ahead and leave God behind. The best things in life take time and so much patience, especially our spiritual lives.

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Let’s take verse 18 above to heart for the New year 2020. It is not so much having a Happy New Year, as it is to have a fruitful one because we have obeyed the call to love God first (and always) no matter what our circumstances. Whether we travel or stay at home, our duty to God and our fellow man is the same — to love.