A hopeful New Year

Another year has come to a close, leaving its indelible mark in our lives.

Reflecting on this year, we as believers can see an abundance of things to give God thanks for, though many areas remain where we like Paul must say, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected, but I press on …” Philippians 3:12.

If we have continued in the faith of the gospel, we go into the New Year as a new person, having experienced God’s promise of transformation by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:1-2) Though our outward man is perishing, the inward man is being renewed day by day. We therefore have no reason to lose heart, but can go boldly forward on the way of life, having our confidence in God who is at work in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Paul also writes that He who has begun this good work in us, will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6) This means that what remains of the old life with its fleshly lusts, old engrained habits, preconceived opinions, old human understanding and judgment, and all remnants of evil, must be cleansed out by God’s fire of love and truth. To this end, God works all things for our best, that we can be conformed to the image of His Son. (Romans 8:28,29)

Our task is to remain in the mind of Christ, who humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death on the cross. “If we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.” Romans 6:5.

“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold I make all things new.’” Revelation 21:5. What a tremendous hope to have in one’s heart in the coming new year.