NIV Genesis 8:20-22 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The Lord …said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."
Did you ever wonder why the new year begins in winter? Why not in the Spring when new life is sprouting everywhere? Or in Autumn when the harvest is being brought in and laid up for the coming cold months? Well, I suppose harvest time is more naturally a time of closing the year and resting, but then the new year should begin either at the end of harvest/beginning of winter, or at the end of winter, which is back at Spring. That seems most natural, doesn’t it? In fact, there was a time when that was so, New Year’s Day was actually April 1st at one time (look up the explanation for April Fool’s Day sometime). But why mid-winter? I know it has to do with Roman calendars and such ancient stuff, but maybe that is just the cover story. Maybe the reason is that God knew we would need the assurance that the end has not yet arrived, as we seem so prone to think. His promise to Noah still stands, and by starting our new calendars in the normally bleak, frozen, death-like time of January, we can be reminded that even the cold, like the heat of summer, the freshness of Spring, and the Fall harvest, is really a sign that God is continuing to sustain His creation in Grace and love for yet a little while longer. Even the daily cycle of sundown, sleep, and sunrise to a new day shows that God is in charge of keeping this world spinning, that it really doesn’t depend on human labor or effort. And since God is in charge, and God is good, and God’s grace continues, despite the inclination of our proud, sinful hearts, we can find great comfort in even such things as the chilling winds, falling snow, and frozen ground. Until God comes in His glory to bring all creation to fulfillment we can rest assured that tomorrow will come. It may not come for each of us, for some, of course, today is the last one, but not for all. For those whose last day is upon them, pray they know Christ, and therefore they, too, shall awake to an eternal, glorious day. For the rest of us, make your resolutions to improve somehow, plan your days to come, and be confident in trusting God’s love and grace to bring even more than all we ask or imagine, through our Savior, Jesus Christ. And I would suggest two good resolutions to make, and to keep: to get to know God better, deeper, and more personally through His Word and worship; and to share Him more fully, readily, and freely with all you encounter this year, both those who already know Him (that you may rejoice and celebrate His love together) and those who don’t (that just maybe their hearts will open, change, accept Christ, and then you will rejoice together – eternally!)
Happy New Year! And whether celebrating or sleeping through, rejoice in God’s promise. He does not curse but brings blessings, and so long as earth endures, even beyond, His love never fails! May you recognize and celebrate His goodness all your days, all year long… and forever.
Blessings,
Your friend in Christ, Pastor Bryan