Looking Back on 2014, Looking ahead at 2015
As I reflect on 2014, I think about everything that happened this year. In my life, in Grand Rapids, in Michigan, the United States, and the world. Many difficult things, but also many great things. Whether it was a cruise liner going down, airplanes disappearing, terrorists attacking different countries or babies being born, family members being healed, marriages taking place, I can't help but ask the question, where is God in the mist of this?
For many (in some cases myself included), it can be easy to see God in the pleasant times in life. He is most certainly there. He is with us in the hospital as we wait for the baby to be born. He is with us at the alter, when we commit to staying together with that one special person for the rest of our lives.
The times when it can be harder to see Him, and we turn against Him, are often the more difficult times in life. When we look at the social injustices in the world or the evil acts we have seen in our schools. When people are mistreated, because of who God made them to be.
It makes me sad to see all that is going on in the world. Statistics show that there are approximately 1.2 MILLION abortions each year, just in America (http://www.operationrescue.org/about-abortion/abortions-in-america). That is 1.2 million students that teachers will never be able to teach. 1.2 million students who will never go on to graduate high school, because they were never given the chance. 1.2 million children, who will never have a first word or grow up to have families of their own. Yet very few seem to really be standing up for them, which God calls us to do (Proverbs 31:8). I look at statistics like this, and I get so sad. Not just about abortion though. Did you know that over 800 million people don't have enough food to live a healthy life? (http://www.wfp.org/hunger/stats) Think of how much food gets thrown away, because it sits in the fridge too long. Or you don't like eating left overs. Or because a restaurant cooked too much that day.
As sad as these statistics may be, we can still find hope through Christ Jesus. Jesus' sole purpose in coming to this earth was not to get rid of all social injustice in the world. His purpose was to help far more than 800 million people. Christ came to earth, to bring hope to the hopeless. To bring life to those who are dead. Jesus came to earth, to live a perfect life, to die on a tree. This wasn't just to save us from our sins, but to restore a broken relationship that we (the world) had/have with God, because of what we have done. But he didn't stop there by dying for us. He defeated death, by raising from the dead. Now he sits on his throne beside God Almighty. He saved the world for generations to come.
Every single one of us has sinned (Romans 3:23). No exceptions. Not me. Not President Obama. Not even Billy Graham. Every single one of us deserves death (Romans 6:23). We have all committed treason again the King of the World. Just like in the United States, committing treason against God is punishable by death. We committed the ultimate injustice, by turning against God. Yet even while we continued to sin, he gave up his only son (John 3:16) so that we didn't have to pay the consequences that we deserve. Instead, we can be with Him forever in heaven. He offers us a home.
If I have learned or been reminded of anything this year, it is that we have no idea what 2015 is going to bring. For all I know, I may not even make it to 2015. If you have not accepted what Christ did on the cross for our sins, and you have not restored your relationship with the only one who can help you with the difficulties in life, please, don't wait. Understand that God loves you very much. That he will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5) if you trust him. Turn to the only place where you can find hope during the good & the bad. If you haven't accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, don't wait until 2016. Don't even wait until 2015, because you don't know how much longer you have (Proverbs 27:1). Give your life to him today. Before you go to bed tonight. But know that this is not just a one time decision. This is living a life made up of decisions that bring you to a deeper relationship with the God Almighty. It is about giving up the things in life that pull us away from God. This doesn't mean that life will be perfect or easy. But you will have a new purpose for living. You will have a purpose for living.
If you don't know what to say, or what to do, then find a friend or a church who loves Jesus, and have someone help you. Don't be ashamed if you need help. We all need help! If you do choose to, please don't keep it to yourself. Share it with everyone you know. If you do accept Christ tonight, you are no longer just celebrating a new year, but a new birthday, because you are a new you (2 Corinthians 5:17)! Below is a prayer that you can pray, if you are interested in committing your life to the Lord.
"Lord, I am a sinner. I have made mistakes. I have turned away from you. But I believe that you love me so much, that you sent Jesus, your only son to this earth. I believe that you forgave me and took my punishment, when you died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Help me to live for you Lord. Help me to trust you. I need your help to follow you, because I can't do it on my own.
Amen!"
For many (in some cases myself included), it can be easy to see God in the pleasant times in life. He is most certainly there. He is with us in the hospital as we wait for the baby to be born. He is with us at the alter, when we commit to staying together with that one special person for the rest of our lives.
The times when it can be harder to see Him, and we turn against Him, are often the more difficult times in life. When we look at the social injustices in the world or the evil acts we have seen in our schools. When people are mistreated, because of who God made them to be.
It makes me sad to see all that is going on in the world. Statistics show that there are approximately 1.2 MILLION abortions each year, just in America (http://www.operationrescue.org/about-abortion/abortions-in-america). That is 1.2 million students that teachers will never be able to teach. 1.2 million students who will never go on to graduate high school, because they were never given the chance. 1.2 million children, who will never have a first word or grow up to have families of their own. Yet very few seem to really be standing up for them, which God calls us to do (Proverbs 31:8). I look at statistics like this, and I get so sad. Not just about abortion though. Did you know that over 800 million people don't have enough food to live a healthy life? (http://www.wfp.org/hunger/stats) Think of how much food gets thrown away, because it sits in the fridge too long. Or you don't like eating left overs. Or because a restaurant cooked too much that day.
As sad as these statistics may be, we can still find hope through Christ Jesus. Jesus' sole purpose in coming to this earth was not to get rid of all social injustice in the world. His purpose was to help far more than 800 million people. Christ came to earth, to bring hope to the hopeless. To bring life to those who are dead. Jesus came to earth, to live a perfect life, to die on a tree. This wasn't just to save us from our sins, but to restore a broken relationship that we (the world) had/have with God, because of what we have done. But he didn't stop there by dying for us. He defeated death, by raising from the dead. Now he sits on his throne beside God Almighty. He saved the world for generations to come.
Every single one of us has sinned (Romans 3:23). No exceptions. Not me. Not President Obama. Not even Billy Graham. Every single one of us deserves death (Romans 6:23). We have all committed treason again the King of the World. Just like in the United States, committing treason against God is punishable by death. We committed the ultimate injustice, by turning against God. Yet even while we continued to sin, he gave up his only son (John 3:16) so that we didn't have to pay the consequences that we deserve. Instead, we can be with Him forever in heaven. He offers us a home.
If I have learned or been reminded of anything this year, it is that we have no idea what 2015 is going to bring. For all I know, I may not even make it to 2015. If you have not accepted what Christ did on the cross for our sins, and you have not restored your relationship with the only one who can help you with the difficulties in life, please, don't wait. Understand that God loves you very much. That he will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5) if you trust him. Turn to the only place where you can find hope during the good & the bad. If you haven't accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, don't wait until 2016. Don't even wait until 2015, because you don't know how much longer you have (Proverbs 27:1). Give your life to him today. Before you go to bed tonight. But know that this is not just a one time decision. This is living a life made up of decisions that bring you to a deeper relationship with the God Almighty. It is about giving up the things in life that pull us away from God. This doesn't mean that life will be perfect or easy. But you will have a new purpose for living. You will have a purpose for living.
If you don't know what to say, or what to do, then find a friend or a church who loves Jesus, and have someone help you. Don't be ashamed if you need help. We all need help! If you do choose to, please don't keep it to yourself. Share it with everyone you know. If you do accept Christ tonight, you are no longer just celebrating a new year, but a new birthday, because you are a new you (2 Corinthians 5:17)! Below is a prayer that you can pray, if you are interested in committing your life to the Lord.
"Lord, I am a sinner. I have made mistakes. I have turned away from you. But I believe that you love me so much, that you sent Jesus, your only son to this earth. I believe that you forgave me and took my punishment, when you died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Help me to live for you Lord. Help me to trust you. I need your help to follow you, because I can't do it on my own.
Amen!"
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