At the Beginning of the New Year 2020

At the Beginning of the New Year 2020 2 Corinthians 5:16–6:2 (NIV84) 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 1 As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For He says, “In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation. Hebrews 12:1–3 (NIV84) 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Matthew 11:28–30 (NIV84) 28 “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” 2019 is gone, never to be repeated. However, 2020 has arrived. This year is only 5 days old. So, we have 360 days left. Friends, what are your thoughts, your hopes, your dreams about 2020? During the past week, I spent some time reflecting on this. Since my early teens, I chose to follow Jesus as my Saviour. I made that choice early January 1974 at a Youth for Christ Rally. At that time, I didn’t know that Billy Graham was the first paid pastor employed by Youth for Christ International, but the message conveyed that night was one written by Billy Graham. But I do distinctly remember that I did reflect on issues that were major to me at that stage of my life: “Is God really with me and does He have a purpose for my life?” Now, you may wonder why I’ve gone back in my refection to that time when I made that first conscious decision to accept Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. You see, on that sweltering hot summers night in 1974 I was challenged to look at myself, the world I live in and the people I shared this earth with through different eyes – not my own, but that of Jesus. In seminal form who I really am were born that night. The fact that I became a pastor originates from there. The fact that we are in Tasmania and not South Africa has its roots there. I can distinctly remember leaving the rally knowing that one day I’m going to minister for Jesus and that ministry will not be restricted by the borders of my country of birth or my mother tongue. This week I shared something with someone and someone else who incidentally heard just a snippet of what I’ve shared cornered me about the inappropriateness of what I’ve shared. This person finished by saying: “This is exactly why the world has such a bad view of Christians.” Friends, you could say that I left that meeting in 1974 filled with good intentions. I’d like to believe that I lived my life kindly intentioned. However, the response of the accidental listener shows that even our best intentions can be misconstrued, perhaps because we do not necessarily consider how others would respond to what we say or do. I’m sure you all have heard the saying: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” But do you know its origin? This saying, which is found in many countries, does not arise from the brash worldly wisdom of an incorrigible. It instead reveals deep Christian insight. This saying is often attributed to two French Catholics, Bernard of Clairvaux or to Francis of Sales who lived 500 years apart. The one lived from 1090-1153 and the other from 1567-1622. I think, however, that both of them had the Apocryphal Book Ecclesiasticus also known as Sirach or Wisdom of Yeshua Ben Sirach, written around 190 B.C., in mind, when they coined their thought. I’m referring to Ecclesiasticus 21:10 “The path of sinners is smooth stones that end in the depths of hell.” Since 1974 I’ve tried to live my life in such a way that people can come to understand that Jesus came to earth to nullify the debilitating dehumanising of humankind by eradicating the consequences of sin. He did that when died for all people without distinction of who or what they are – male or female, slave or free, rich or poor, young or old, married or single. However, I’ve also tried to convey the biblical message that not all receive the benefits of Jesus’ atoning death; but that only those who believe the gospel, who submit to God, who accepts His grace, and who live for Jesus do. Friends, Scripture reminds us again and again that in Jesus, through His birth, life and death God finally has broken the devastating power of sin so that followers of Jesus can live for God At the beginning of this New Year, we have another opportunity to reflect on what needs to change to enable the people around us and us to live for God’s purposes. So How should we approach 2020? I want to suggest the following: 1. Regard NO ONE from a worldly point of view. In 2 Corinthians Paul is insistent that Christians have no right to live selfishly (5:14). Friends, this biblical idea attacks today’s culture head-on. In the middle of the twentieth century, popular magazine titles were generically named Life, Look, and Time. As the new millennium approached, magazine titles reflected an increasingly ego-driven society: People, Us, and Self. How do you think this reflects a Christlike lifestyle? Paul’s encounter with the risen Jesus on the Damascus road radically changed his thinking (Acts 9:1–15). All of his learning and all of his training under the teachers of the law and the respected Gamaliel had not led him to the truth. The wisdom of the world had not pointed him to the Saviour of the world (1 Corinthians 2:1–16). Only this personal encounter with Jesus convinced Paul that he needed to re-evaluate his own life in light of what Jesus had accomplished on the cross. There on the Damascus road, Paul realised that Jesus had given up His life for others—not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles. As a Pharisee, Paul had strictly followed Jewish law and its traditions, which limited contact with unbelieving Gentiles. However, Paul abandoned those misgivings and began calling Gentiles to faith in Jesus Christ. He regarded everyone who acknowledged themselves as utterly unworthy sinners before God, but who repented, and believed in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour as Christians. Because of his encounter with Jesus, Paul no longer was looking at the outward appearances of people. Instead, he evaluated people from Christ’s perspective. 2. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. This is the profile of every Christian! It is your profile. Friends, Christians are brand-new people. The Holy Spirit gives them a new life, and they are not the same anymore. Christians are not reformed, rehabilitated, or re-educated—they are recreated. Paul announced a whole new creation in Christ. Too often, we individualise this verse so that the main point is blurred. Many preach, “If anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation.” This is true, but Paul is saying much more. Not only are believers changed from within, but a whole new order of creative energy began with Christ. There is a new covenant, a new perspective, a new body, a new church. There is the renewal od all of creation. So, you and I should sit up in 2020. We should take notice. New ways replaced the old, worn-out ways. This is not a superficial change that will be quickly superseded by another novelty. This is an entirely new order of all creation under Christ’s authority. It requires a new way of looking at all people and all of creation. 3. Accept that all this is from God. This new creation is not of any human doing. God himself has begun the work. Only God can allow people to approach him. Only God can satisfy his peculiar righteous demands. Only God can save. God is the Author and Finisher of salvation (Hebrews 12:2). 4. See yourself as Christ’s ambassadors. Ambassadors are official representatives of one country to another. Paul described himself and his co-workers as Christ’s ambassadors, representatives of Christ to the world. Paul was a spokesman for God. The message he preached was, in fact, God’s appeal to the world. God gave Paul his authority to teach. God had not given this authority to Paul because he was a gifted speaker or had the right credentials. God purely had chosen Paul to deliver God’s demands because that was His desire. 5. Accept that 2020 is also the time of God’s favour. Friends, now are the time of God’s favour, according to Paul. Now is the day of salvation. Paul could be called a “now Christian.” For Paul, today is what matters most to God. A classic comic strip shows two children debating the merits of remembering, anticipating, and living life. The little girl finally says, “Yesterday is past. Tomorrow is the future. All we have is today. Today is a gift. That is why we call it ‘the present.’” God’s mercies and presence are available moment by moment. Although there is reason to glance over the shoulder or sneak a peek at future possibilities, the Lord of the now calls us to celebrate life without regrets. What regrets hold you hostage to the past? What dreams expend the energy you need to obey God today? What can you do today to sanctify it as a holy moment never to be repeated? Once you have identified what to do, let that act call you to worship. 6. Be Reconciled with God. When Adam sinned, he sinned willfully, eyes wide open. Adam loaded his sin with rebellious intent and self-interest. Adam had watched Eve take the fruit, and nothing happened to her. So, when he took the fruit from her, he sinned wilfully against God, assuming there would be no consequences. Their rebellion turned everything upside down. Eve followed the snake, Adam followed Eve, and no one followed God. Cosmic rebellion! Adam and Eve plummeted from the pinnacle of innocence and intimacy into the pit of guilt and estrangement. “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realised they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” (Genesis 3:7). There the first couple were, in their ridiculous fig leaves, slouching fearfully around paradise. In an instant, the first couple had passed from life to death, from sinlessness to sin riddled, from closeness to isolation. The gospel is not “reconcile yourselves.” The gospel is “God reconcile you.” Receive reconciliation from God. Friends, we may have the best intentions for 2020. It might indeed mean a new beginning once again. But I’d like to close by reminding you today that on our own we cannot make a fresh start. To think that is an evil illusion: only God can create a new beginning with people. And it is in this context that Matthew 11:28-30 brings us new hope. Jesus’ gracious invitation extends to all. No one is omitted or neglected. All we must do is acknowledge our need and come to him. Jesus frees people from these burdens. The rest that Jesus gives equals eternal life (Hebrews 4:9) and brings love, healing, and peace with God Jesus said, “Learn from Me.” Jesus, our leader and example, was also the ultimate servant, gentle and lowly in heart. His path of humble service is the pattern for us to follow in 2020. So much of our tiredness and heavy labour originates from arrogance. When we become successful, we inflate our egos and we go for more. If we falter, the rejection of others and our self-condemnation weigh us down in guilt and self-doubt. It is much more unrestricted to take Christ’s attitude of serving others. So, let’s remember at the beginning of 2020 that in our strength we cannot make a new beginning at all; we can only pray for one. Where people are on their own and live by their own devices, there is only the old, the past. Only where God is can there be a good new beginning. Friends, we cannot command God to grant it; but we can pray to God for it. And we can pray when we realise that we cannot do anything else, that we have reached our limit, that someone else must make that new beginning. Amen.