You have to admit that around January 1st, hope
springs eternal. People make resolutions and attempt to make a commitment to
change certain things in their life for the better (usually). They look forward
to the new year being better than the one that has just past. Very rarely do
you hear someone say that they want the New Year to be the same as, or worse
than, last year. Almost everyone has high aspirations and wants to achieve more
this year than they did previously. Many set goals with the optimism of
achieving them. Some will, some will not. Most give up or forget about their
resolutions before the month of January closes. But that does not deter us from
making new resolutions next year. We try to convince ourselves we will do
better and try harder because the change we seek will benefit us and those around
us. As I said, hope springs eternal.
The problem with these resolutions is that we think that
just because there was a change in the digits on a calendar, it will change the
outlook and disposition of our life. I will not say this is foolhardy but it does
seem to be inconsistent. What makes us think that a vow in January is going to
have more impact than a change in July? There are not too many heart transplant
patients – or other vital organs for that matter – who would say that they
would wait for their transplant until next year because they are going to make
a resolution to live healthier in the up-coming year. This past year we heard
much about the Mayan calendar and the end of the world as we know it. While the
loss of Twinkie and Ho-Ho production is a major setback to humanity, the world
is still here and plugging along much as it has for centuries. In our arrogance
we seem to believe that our calendar is the correct one. So, when it changes
the numerals of the year, we think it is a brand new start. Yet, even our calendar
in not in sync with the motions of the galaxy. We have to have a leap year
every four years to compensate for the variance in accurate time measurement.
While this little adjustment solves our problem it still is not perfect.
New Year’s Resolutions have their place and many people need
them to focus and commit to needed changes. Becoming proactive to correct a
lingering problem may take time but the effort will be worth it. Unlike the Lenten
practice of giving up something for the duration of Lent (40 days prior to
Easter), New Year’s resolution changes are sought to be permanent. I met an
Anglican priest once who gave up smoking cigarettes for Lent every year. It was
a laudable and noble endeavor. However, when Easter arrived and Lent was over,
he could be seen lighting up just before the Easter services. He made it
through Lent but his sacrifice was not life changing and he returned to his old
unhealthy habits. This too occurs with New Year’s Resolutions. We quit before
we are transformed, before the changes have a chance to make a positive impact
on our lives. If we do follow through, we are blessed and thankful that we
tried and succeeded. In and of themselves, these resolutions are not bad or
ungodly. It does give us hope that we can change and change for the better.
But, what does God have to say about this subject?
Nowhere in Scripture are New Year’s Resolutions mentioned.
Basically I believe that since God is eternal and outside of time as we know
it, calendars have no influence on him at all. Time was invented by God for our
sake to keep everything from happening at once. Linear time is a creation of
God for the benefit of man. I think of time like a piece of string. It has a
definite beginning and a definite end. God holds both ends in his hands. He can
see the beginning and the end at the same moment. So, from his perspective, the
years all run together and there is really no clear delineation from one year
to the next. Just because our calendars end and numbers change, time rolls on
and on and on until Jesus comes back. It does not matter when you make a choice
to do anything. God sees when you do it and he sees the results of that choice in the
same instant.
The Bible is clear that God’s mercies are new every day.
(Lamentations 3:23) Every day is a new start and a chance to have a different
kind of life, a different quality to life. We don’t have to wait until the
first of the year. God doesn’t wait and we don’t have to either. Paul wrote to
the church in Corinth, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the
day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2) Our resolution should be to daily carry
our cross and follow Jesus. (Luke 9:23) When that resolution is entered into,
things come into proper perspective. I have quoted the saying many times about “loving
Jesus and doing what you want.” I don’t know who to attribute it to but it is
worth repeating. When you love Jesus to the fullest extent, with all of your
heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30), your wants and desired get
rewired. You no longer desire to do the things you used to do because you love
Jesus. We do not have to wait for the New Year to come to change this in our lives.
You never know what may happen in the intervening period. Do you really have time
to wait?
Even though New Year’s for 2013 has officially passed it is
not too late to make a resolution. According to some study somewhere, it only
takes 21 days to make something a habit. If you started today (January 2nd),
whatever you endeavor to do could become a habit before the next Super Bowl
game (February 13th). But even if you don’t do it before the Super
Bowl, that does not make it too late. Resolutions can and should change your
life. They should change it for the better. That is what God wants for you. It is what God wants from you. If
you do not know Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life, today is the day to
accept him. January first only comes around once a year and after it passes you will
have to wait 364 days (365 in leap years) for it to come around again. Can you afford to wait? Make
that resolution right now. If you do know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior,
is there some issue that is blocking, delaying, or stunting your spiritual
growth and maturity? Make that resolution here and now to change that issue. Three
hundred and sixty four days is way too long to wait. As Nike used to say: “Just
do it!” Resolutions are hard to keep. We may achieve them and feel good about
ourselves. But the true life transforming resolutions, the ones that have
eternal consequences, have Jesus at the center of them. Do not let the change
in numerals on a calendar restrict you from making decisions, modifications and
transformations that will bring you eternal security. The best year of your
life can start at any point. It can start today. The great thing about Jesus is
that he is not bound by a calendar or a falling lighted ball in Times Square. He will
take your resolution for him anytime, anywhere. In Christ, every day is a new
day, every year a new year. He is a resolution you will never regret making or
keeping because hope in him really does spring eternal. Start today and see
what happens because Jesus is the Lord of Life.
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