…”because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.” 1 John 2:8 As 2022 dawns upon us, we pause to reflect the year(s) past and the the year before us. Many would look back and say what went wrong? Or what went right? We might look ahead and make those resolutions to become better versions of ourselves, or to turn the leaf so to speak. These things often involve diet, or exercise, but they also can involve more important matters. Matters of the heart. If we were raised in a Christian home, we were taught right from wrong. No matter who we are, we will still struggle with that innate sin nature. The Apostle John writes earlier in this chapter, encouraging us to not sin. He tells us if we do, we have an advocate with the Father. Namely Jesus Christ the righteous. He further tells us that Jesus Christ is a propitiation for our sins, and not ours only, but the sins of the entire world. This big word means to appease, or gain favor. It is a law term. A lawyer or advocate might propitiate in our behalf before a judge. This propitiation is less important if we are innocent of any charges before us, but when we are guilty of all charges, we desperately need the judge to be appeased. This then is how we can start out the new year. Recognizing that our guiltiness is forgiven on all counts. We can realize that our past, present and future sins have been drowned in the sea of grace never to be remembered any more. We can know too that darkness is past, because we have the true light, Jesus Christ, to carry us forward into the new year as a lamp to our feet and a light to our pathway.
We remember the words to that familiar song “I look not back”, where the writer tells us all the areas not to look, and finishes with the encouragement to look up into the face of Jesus, for there our hearts can rest, our fears are stilled; and there is joy, and love, and light for darkness, and perfect peace, and every hope fulfilled. Happy New Year! Look ahead, but also look up and grasp the hand of He who was crucified in your behalf, and who has been sitting at the right hand of his Father making intercession in your behalf so that you too can be called a child of God!
Praise God for his unspeakable mercies toward us in Christ! Hans Lampinen
Submitted by Pastor Stan
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