Contributed by Rev. Dr. Steve Disher, St. Paul's Reformed Church, Newton, NC

Posted on 2009-01-06 23:41:51

A thorough topside check revealed everything in perfect working condition. The engine ran fine, the out drive went up and down, and the prop was the correct size and pitch. So, one of the marina guys jumped in the water to check underneath. He came up choking on water, he was laughing so hard. Under the boat, still strapped securely in place, was the trailer."

 

This is a brand new year. Think of it - this New Year has never been lived by anyone before! Living this New Year will be like walking in new fallen snow - you will be making tracks no one else has made and in a time no one else has lived.

 

What, do you imagine, is in store for you as you sit on theedge ofa new year? 2009 will be a gift from God, what are you going to do with it? Is there anything in your life that is holding you back from living this life to the fullest? Is there any weight, any hindrance that prevents you from giving your all to Him? Is there a sin, a nasty habit, a wrong direction that needs to be dealt with and unloaded?

 

The Lord said, through Isaiah, "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good." (Isaiah 1.16-17a) Then, in verse 18, He said: "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, (Isaiah 1.18a)

 

"Let's decide together," the Lord is saying. "Let's look at this whole issue of your sin reasonably and talk about it."

 

When we do, we have His promise:

 

"Though your sins are like scarlet,

 

They shall be as white as snow;

 

Though they are red like crimson,

 

They shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1.18b)

 

Three thousand years ago the eternal God instructed the Hebrew people and us to reconsider. Reconsider the direction your life is taking. Reconsider your relationship with the Lord. Reconsider your relationship with others. And if you find sin or lack, then repent, go in the opposite direction back to the Lord, back to His word and receive His forgiveness and, thus, be freed fromtheweight of sin and guilt.

 

 

To the Church in Ephesus Jesus said, "...I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent. (Revelation 2.4-5)

 

We often think that repentance should be applied to the most grievous of sins from the most grievous of sinners...not to "normal, everyday, run-of-the-mill sins committed by ordinary, church-going people" like us. But sin is sin.

 

 

Sin is sin.

 

The smallest or the greatest is anathema in the eyes of an all-holy, all-loving God.

 

Sin is sin. God the Father knows that sin must be dealt with lest it become a spiritual cancerous growth that consumes us.

 

Sin is sin. Release that unnecessary weight, that burden that others may not see. Lay it at the foot of the cross. Let go, leave it there, and don't look back.

 

Sin must be dealt with,theobvious ones as well as the not-so-obvious ones.

 

Think about this: "Evil is anything and everything opposed to the fullest display of the glory of Christ." (John Piper, Spectacular Sins)

 

Our goal in life must be to live lives that glorify Jesus Christ. To accomplish this, the Lord gives two choices with two conditional promises...

 

If you are willing and will obey, then you will enjoy the goodness and beauty that God offers. (Cf. Isaiah 1.19)

 

If you refuse and rebel against the Lord, the sword awaits. (Cf. Isaiah 1.20)

 

It's interesting that "sword" comes from the Hebrew "charab" which also means "drought." Refuse and rebel and you open the door for drought in your life.

 

Please, be encouraged today! God desires to forgive, to lift up and to restore you to Himself. But you must be willing to listen, to receive what the Lord is saying and obey Him, come to His side, and to be strong in Him.

 

Do this and your year, though filled with trials, will be a joyful one.

 

Resolutions for the New Year may benefit to a point, but for smoother sailing in your life, unhitch the weight of sin, worry and doubt, and return to the Lord. He abundantly pardons (Isaiah 55.7); He is abundantly merciful (Psalm 86.15); He abundantly comforts (2 Corinthians 1.5); He abundantly gives (Ephesians 3.20); because He abundantly loves us (1 Timothy 1.14).

 

In Jesus

Learn more about St. Paul's Reformed Church online: www.stpaulsreformed.org