New Years Eve 2006

New Years Eve

Luke 12:35-36

December 31, 2006

“The New Year, the New Age”

"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him" Luke 12:35, 36).

            New Year's Eve-it's a night when many reflect on annual memories and prepare for new beginnings. Perhaps New Year's Eve should be celebrated during Advent. This evening finds us thankful for our past and looking to an unknown future.

            Some people fear the future. Anxiety leads to dread and robs hope from another year under God's mercy. While some fear the future, others fear that there won't be a future. How futile! God tells us not to worry because it adds nothing to life except misery. He commands and controls  the future in ways that defy death. Explorer Ponce de Leon is said to have searched the "new world" for immortality, but God had already provided it through Jesus Christ. The real New World is heaven.

            Wise Christians prepare for the future. We have no idea when the future as earth knows it will end abruptly. It will happen more quickly than even the speed of light. In today's Bible reading we're told to be dressed and ready, perhaps as many people are dressed and ready tonight for a new year.

Unfortunately for some people they will not be ready and will miss out on the New Year and the New Age to come. When my family and I came to Wisconsin years ago, I remember celebrating the New Year, well no I don’t. You see as we got ready for the big countdown and the ball dropping in Times Square we turned on our T. V. But there was no celebration, no dropping ball, all that was left were the wrappings and decorations of a party that we had missed. You see, we forgot that we live in the central time zone. That made a difference. We were not ready and we were not prepared. Our Lord, through the gospel, the good news of Jesus our Savior that came to save us through the forgiveness of our sins in His death on the cross, through this gospel He calls us to faith. By faith in Jesus Christ we are prepared for the New Year and the New age of God’s grace and unmerited favor. We will not miss the celebration or the party. 

            Still, time may seem to drag on for us just as it drags on for party revelers as they await midnight. There is the long slow wait and then all of a sudden the final 60 seconds come, and seem to race toward a finish line only to leap forward again into a new year. Our advent on earth finds us waiting for Christ to establish a new time and an endless year. We are racing toward an end that in reality is a beginning. No celebration tonight will equal the celebration at the end of time. Our triumphant Savior will shatter the night sky with sizzling glory, and we might even dance to the angelic trumpets. We will toast Him with our praise and our love will extend to all the faithful.

            Have a wonderful evening. And when the clock chimes at midnight, that is eleven central time, remember the new time that awaits you when Christ comes again.

Prayer: Thank You dear Father for the blessings of the past year and especially for keeping us faithful to You. Grant us a new year that finds happiness in Your loving care, for Jesus' sake. Amen.