Closer 2026
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As we approach each new year, like you, I think about the things that I might want to be different, about my life, about my house, about our family, and the church, and our business.
And some years I think - man, we really need to clean our act up.
There is so much nonsense here, that it feels like we are wading in garbage. I need to fix this and I need to fix that. And if we don’t take care of this situation immediately, I don’t know if we are even going to make it.
I am pretty dramatic in my own head.
Some years I get really overwhelmed with the weight of all of the things that feel wrong.
And other years, I am just more okay with the way things are. I am okay with just being okay. The way things are is fine.
That’s broken, but its fine.
We don’t have this, but it has to be okay.
My health is what it is.
But as we approached 2026, I felt different.
2026 feels like a year of opportunity.
2026 Feels like a year of growth.
You can’t let your feelings dictate your life… our heart is deceitful above all things.
And yet, I have this feeling of excitement - about what could be.
Where could we be, if we did these things.
Where could we be - if we fixed this.
What would it look like - if we were obedient here.
And the place I keep coming back to, is Closer.
Closer to the lord.
Closer to each other.
Closer to the end.
And all of those things are wonderfully exciting.
Open your bibles with me please to Phil 3:10-15
10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,
11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.
12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead,
14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you.
Every year, I come back to this passage with the passing of December 31.
This is the new years passage.
It is the goals passage.
When I am in those years of being okay with just getting by, it kicks me into forward motion.
When I am in those years of being totally overwhelmed, it tells me to forget the things behind me.
And even this year, as I am excited about the things that God has in store for us - in this time of open opportunity, it is a grounding in a simple truth. My goal, is to know Him and to move forward.
I don’t just want to fix the nonsense, I don’t just want to be okay. I want to know the Lord. I want to be closer to him, closer to the heart of Jesus. Closer to his people. Closer to the purpose for which I was put on this earth.
And, I do that, knowing that we are closer.
Closer to the end, of our days or the end of days. And even though that may feel scary, its not supposed to.
It is the reality of this life, that there are only so many days to it.
With every Passing hour, day, week, year, we are closer than ever to the return of our Lord. The time when the bible describes that He will call His people up.
If we look at the world around us, we can see that. Things that were written about 2 thousand years ago, suddenly seem not only possible, but likely to unfold.
Jesus is closer.
By just the nature of the passing of time he is closer.
By the evidence of what was prophesied, he is closer.
Throughout the year people will come to me and say “did you see this??” prophecy coming true. “Did you see this” and its miracles or judgement happening in real time in our world around.
If we are honest withourselves, knowing all of that, we should be where Paul was.
We know, we aren’t there yet.
We know that if we somehow make it through this life, it is by the Glory of God.
We know that we fall short ALL the time.
So as we start this new year, we want to follow this example that Paul gave - to accomplish the goal that he set forth for himself. The prize is ahead of us.
Paul says he makes every effort.
So we should make every effort.
To really understand that we have to think about an athlete, performing at the peak of their sport, reaching, straining, and stretching for the finish line.
Every effort - isnt effort just on sundays.
It certainly isn’t just effort on Mothers day, easter and christmas.
Every effort means it is a part of everything that we do, it is part of every day - every activity, every thought. Pointed and directed towards our goal.
And our goal - is to be closer to God and in that, closer to each other.
Closer to God
a. Be where he is
14 And he replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
15 “If your presence does not go,” Moses responded to him, “don’t make us go up from here.
Moses had the right attitude.
Listen. If God isn’t in it, I don’t want to be.
16 How will it be known that I and your people have found favor with you unless you go with us? I and your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.”
But he doesn’t just go wherever we want to go.
God is all present, but there are situations and places where we can - as believers - just see. God is not in this.
God wasn’t in the wind.
He wasn’t in the flame.
So we pursue his presence.
We get out of the things that he isn’t in.
We go to the quiet places. we pursue goodness.
We follow closely to where the Lord leads - and to where he is.
If the Lord isn’t in it, I don’t want to be.
But if he is… there is peace.
If he is, we can do anything.
If he is… Lo, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
Wherever he is going I can go.
And that is where I want to be. I want to be pursuing his presence.
b. Do what he is doing.
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked them. “Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?”
Consider the things that Jesus did.
If we are his hands and feet, what would he be doing with them?
How should we be spending our time?
Our bibles, the gospels, are full of those examples.
1 All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
23 Now Jesus began to go all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
46 and he said, “It is written, my house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves!”
14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.
And that leads us to the next.…
2. Closer to eachother
19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
Being where we are.
One of the biggest blessings of the last year, was while I was getting let go from my job.
But it wasn’t in getting let go.
It was that in that moment, Rick showed up.
Be where each other are.
If we are in the hospital, go there.
If we are stuck at home, go there.
When we are here - BE HERE.
Whenever we are - be there.
Make excuses to be near eachother and to be in eachothers lives.
BOTHER one another. Be TOO present too often.
These People have kids in activities, go to those activities.
These People have jobs in the public, go to those places.
These People have hobbies, go do those hobbies. f
Doing what we are doing.
Start with the easy stuff.
Struggle together.
Pray together.
Study together.
Eat together.
3. Further from ourselves.
The biggest hurdle to all of this is just ourselves.
When we think we have it all figured out. OR.
When we talk ourselves out of trying.
Paul ends this section of scripture by just saying it how it is.
Let all of us who are mature, think this way!
And if you think differently, basically, don’t.
Submit to the lord, and change your mind.
15 Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you.
2026 has begun.
We are 4 days in.
As a church, as a family, as christian’s, we move forward.
Knowing we are closer to the end.
We make every effort, to be closer to him.
Knowing we are closer to the end, we make every effort, to be closer to each other.
Straining, stretching and aching to make those things happen.
We will start with this table set before us.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread,
24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 So, then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord.
28 Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup.
