At Christmas - Called To Believe Today

"Today's Devotion" For December 31, 2005

Read: Hebrews 3:7-14; Psalm 96

AT CHRISTMAS - CALLED TO BELIEVE TODAY

"See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by Sin's deceitfulness." (Hebrews 3:7-14)

"Out with the old; In with the new." That's what is often seems to come down to as human beings come face-to-face with New Year's Eve and the New Year. The newspapers are filled with remembrances of the past year - the highlights and low-lights of our culture and society. Local newspapers publish obituaries of local, public figures who have died in the old year as well as local news stories of import, including the annual crime statistics (especially the murder count) to show us how "good" or "bad" our cities have been compared to others. National news outlets, especially television news programs, are replete with references to the various "world shaking/altering" events that have taken place. Pieces on economic growth or failure, crime and punishment, war and peace, scientific discoveries or failures, disasters and catastrophes, politics and religion, and the actions and deaths of "famous" or "infamous" people are the substance of such programs. Such stories will continue into the New Year as all the data becomes finalized.

We human beings are quite interesting creatures when it comes to time. We get fascinated with the past - with history - if we believe it can show where others failed. We embrace the past if we can use it to support our successes. Often the only reason for people to look at the past is to wax nostalgic for a better time and grander moments. A reality check reminds many of the old year and how they failed to follow through on their "New Year's Resolutions" of the previous year. Sadly, such looking back doesn't seem to do a lot of good, because what the past can teach us about ourselves, how we treat others, and what we can do to make a better world is mostly overlooked - it's just too hard; it takes too much effort.

At the same time as the human family seems to be preoccupied with the past, it is also obsessed with the future. The New Year is a time for many to "turn over a new leaf," forgetting the past and seeking better things in the future. New Year's resolutions will again be made by many - resolutions to achieve more, fail less, make more money, be better people, etc. Politicians tell us that they'll do business in a "better way." Diplomats assure us that the climate for peace in the world is going to be better - peace is just a day away. Economists predict either great gains or dire consequences to the economy because of a rosy future or a terrible past. This list is endless, yet we dare not forget that again this New Year people will make more "New Year's Resolutions" to change their lives, their circumstances, and their fortunes.

History tells us that "those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it in the future." The Holy Spirit brings that truth to the world already in Scripture. St. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church that the history of the Children of Israel's wandering in the wilderness was important "as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did...These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come" (I Corinthians 10:6, 11). The writer to the Hebrews follows St. Paul's words as he reminds us of the hardening of the hearts of the people of Israel in the desert over against God, despite seeing His mighty hand at work among them during their forty years of wandering.

With humanity's obsession with the past and its longing for a "better" future it seems that the most important time of all is missed - Today! In our reading from Hebrews today, the Holy Spirit is encouraging us to live in the present, believe in the present, love in the present, and serve in the present. The past is over - we can't change it. We can learn from it but we must not be obsessed with it. The future is something to look forward to as more days to experience the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God. It's something to look forward to because we want to live in God's continual blessings and seek out new opportunities to live in Him, for Him, and through Him to touch the lives of others who don't yet know Him and His salvation in Christ. We look forward to the future because we hope, as the solemn feast of Christmas has reminded us, for Jesus' return to take us home with Him to heaven.

Today, as we stand at the conclusion of the "Old Year" and at the threshold of a "New Year," God's Spirit calls us to faith and service "Today" - in the moment. "Today is is the first day of the rest of your life," is not just a trite phrase. It's a spiritual reality. It doesn't matter if we believed yesterday, or whether we'll believe tomorrow. Yesterday is past and we're still here. Tomorrow hasn't come as yet and we still don't know for certain if we'll get there. We do know, however, that we are alive today, we believe today, we are receiving God's blessings today, we live in His forgiveness today, and today may be the first day of our lives in eternity with Jesus. Perhaps you remember that the Epicureans had the philosophy, "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die." As God’s people, however, we believe today, work today, serve today, love today, and encourage today because tomorrow isn't here until it gets here. While it's a wise thing for us to plan for the future, faith in Jesus leads us to live for Him today and be grateful for every tomorrow we may see. Because our hope is in heaven we are called to believe today.

Have a Blessed and Happy New Year in Christ Jesus our Savior and Lord. Believe Today! "Come, Lord Jesus. Come!

Prayer: Gracious heavenly Father, I have spent the past couple of weeks celebrating Christmas and sharing the glory of Your precious gift of the Savior of the world. Now, at the end that celebration comes the end of the current year and the beginning of a new one. I can wax nostalgic about the old or be depressed by it. I can hope for a better tomorrow or be depressed by the prospect of its unknown nature. By Your grace You have seen fit to come to me through Your Word and Spirit and encourage me to believe today, live today, love today, and serve today in Jesus. Guide my recollection and remembrance of the past so that I might learn from it in order to be a better servant of You and witness to Your love in a world obsessed with itself while excluding You. Let my hope rest in Jesus and not on resolutions, world events, economic indicators, or political promises. Let my life reflect such hope for today that others might hear and believe for a blessed tomorrow and forever with You in heaven. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.