Bulletin Article -- December 26, 2021
As I write this, I anticipate being with you all on another last Lord's day worship of the year. A year ago, we were still meeting only once a week at the Sunday morning worship hour. We started back to our regular Bible studies and worship schedule in April. Yes, it's been a rough and very unusual past two years. And yet, the Lord has been with us. We should be counting our blessings daily!
If the Lord is willing, we will begin a brand New Year at the end of this week. We have no idea what will come our way in it. We are not privileged to see the future. But while we never know what the year may hold, we do know Him who holds the year in His hands.
Gary leads us in a song that captures this sentiment. It's called I Know Who Holds Tomorrow, or sometimes we find it as, Many Things About Tomorrow. The author is Ira Forest Stanphill (1920-1993). The chorus expresses the idea that there are so many things about tomorrow we cannot understand, but we do know God controls tomorrow, and will hold our hand through it.
In the beginning, God promised, "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease" (Genesis 8:22). As long as the earth remains, some things will not change. If we can trust God's steady hand to fulfill His promises in nature, and we can trust Him with everything else in our lives.
There are so many uncertainties when considering the future, not just when we think of a New Year. We don't know if we will encounter joy or tragedy, pleasure or pain. This year may be our last on this earth. "...where as you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away" (James 4:14). But for the Christian, we need not despair. Remember, our Father has our interests, protection, and salvation in mind.
"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).
The future may not be pleasant. We live in a cursed sinful world. Bad things can happen to good people. Once again, we do not despair and lose hope. Paul wrote, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
God told Joshua, "...Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (1:9).
"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).
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