A New Year with God - New Year's Eve

December 31, 2012 New Year’s Eve Revelation - A New Heaven and a New Earth Here we are at the end of another year. There has been a lot of good times and a lot of bad times for us all. One of the most notable events of 2012, is that it was said that the end of the world was coming. The media made a big deal about that. And many are celebrating because they survived the end of the world. I laugh to myself, and say you really don’t know that – the year has not ended yet. But more importantly I laugh because I think this whole end of the world thing has been blown out of proportion. It seems that the one way to strike fear in the heart of an American is to say end, last, final. For some reason, whenever we hear those words we cringe, we start the scrurm and sweat. For some reason we think that life as we know it is about to end. It is popular in church for pastors to say that the last days are coming. We might be, we might not be, but Is that the only reason to join church – because this is your last chance to know salvation? Is our relationship with God to be based on fear of going to hell? To have fear when you hear the word end, or final is a misinterpretation of the mayan prophecy, and ultimately it is a misinterpretation of the word of God. The mayans don’t believe in endings. And they never said that the world was coming to an end. As a matter of fact, the prophecy is that world is coming to a new beginning. In order for the world to begin anew, what is already here has to pass away- so that something new and different can emerge. If you look at scripture it gives the same concept. Colossians says the in Christ, you take off what is old and you put on what is new. Revelation says the old earth shall pass and the new shall emerge. Old and new go hand in hand – you cant have one without the other. Beginning and endings go hand in hand – you cant have one without the other. Why are we so afraid of endings – when that is only half the story. You can’t have an ending, without a new beginning. God says I am the alpha and the omega. He didn’t say he was alpha and he didn’t say he was omega. He said I am the beginning and the end. You can’t separate the two. So maybe we shouldn’t worry so much about it all being over –maybe we should learn to look forward to what is next. When we live our life in Christ, there is always what’s next. The old never really goes away – it just becomes a part of the new. The new was underneath the old all along. As we begin 2013 – I don’t know what you have planned. I don’t know what your resolutions and goals are. I don’t know what you will do differently this year. But I ask – that this year you live each moment with Christ. Let God be a part of your whole life. And everything that you experience this year – take in the moment as a gift from God. A son asked his dad – dad – there are 3 frogs sitting a branch, and one decided to jump. How many are still on the branch? The dad thought about it, if one jumps, then there are two left on the branch. No – that is not right. So the dad thought again – Oh I get it, if one jumps, then they all will jump – so there are no frogs left. No, said the son. One frog only decided to jump – he didn’t actually take the plunge. There are still 3 frogs left on the branch. Whatever you do tonight to bring the new year in – what you do in 2013- may you live each moment in the spirit of Christ. Let each experience of the year be an adventure – and everyday ask God – what is next for me? It is only when you live you life for God that you see the old pass away and all things become new!