Only In Jesus Is There Anything New

"Today's Devotion" For February 3, 2006

Read: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11; Psalm 62

ONLY IN JESUS IS THERE ANYTHING NEW

"What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes1:9)

In the United States, in the month of January each year, the President gives his "State of the Union" address as he did this past Tuesday. While he's supposed to be reporting to Congress on the "State of the Union" in accordance with his Constitutional responsibilities, everyone knows it's also a time in which he wll lay out his own agenda for the nation during the coming year.

Each year we hear basically the same "stuff." There's always something about the economy, world affairs and relationships, the need for political reform, taxes, health care, government programs, and...well the list seems interminably long. It doesn't matter who is President, the same issues or types of issues come up every year whether the President is a Republican or a Democrat. The only thing really different about each presentation stems from the abilities and effectiveness of each President's speech writers and the applicable political party affiliation.

Inevitably there are the newscasters' analyses of what the President said, what he meant by what he said, how effective he's going to be in implementing his policies, how the "speech played in Aurora," and whether or not he gave a "good performance." Other items come under scrutiny and consideration, but these are the essential.

Of course, let's not forget the "40-year old" tradition of the "loyal” opposition batting and bashing the President's speech, "head," and integrity all to pieces in their follow-up television response to the President's analysis of the "State of the Union." If you're like me, and I've been watching the "State of the Union" address for most of my adult life (unless duties kept me from listening or watching), you've probably come to realize that no one in the opposition party is going to compliment the President for anything he says or does, especially during that telecast.

Then there's the inevitable discussion about how history will judge the President. We remember that it was said that President Clinton was obsessed with establishing his legacy as President, concerned for how history would view him. An objective analysis of his Presidency shows that he spent a lot of time responding to polling data in order to keep his popularity high. On Tuesday night of this week, commentators noted that President George W. Bush isn't concerned about the polls and his popularity, but rather in doing what he believes to be right regardless of his critics. He's also concerned about his place in history, or so the commentators would have us believe.

In the face of all the rhetoric, speech making, political bashing and comeuppance of our day, we hear the Preacher in Ecclesiastes remind us that "there is nothing new under the sun" (Eccl. 1:9). In the back of our minds we all believe we can make a difference in the world - and so we can. But that difference isn't necessarily to change history or stop its inevitable march to the Judgment Day. We are led to understand as we read the Scriptures that we make a difference as we, as forgiven and redeemed children of God in Jesus Christ, share God's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness with other in word and deed. As God's beloved children, we're not concerned with what others might think about us or how history will view us. We are concerned only with living our lives as followers of the Lamb who has died and risen again that we might be saved for eternity.

By God's grace, you and I are made new every morning. In Holy Baptism we are made His children and He renews us in Jesus every day. Our past is forgiven and forgotten by our Father in heaven for the sake of Jesus. Today is a new day - yesterday is gone and forgotten by God. Unlike the world around us, history is not our judge, God is. Our place in history means nothing for our future only depends on Christ's redemption of us today, then tomorrow, then the next day and the next, and so on until He takes us home to heaven or He comes again on the Day of Judgment. The people of the world and its leaders can seek to establish their legacy on earth; God's people in Jesus Christ seek to inherit heaven according to the grace, mercy, and promise of God.

Prayer: Father, I realize that each day is a new day and tomorrow is past, especially for those who are Your people in Christ. While You call me to learn from history, as the Apostle Paul so eloquently states in I Corinthians 10, it's not history with which I'm supposed to be concerned or making. I believe, Father, as the Preacher writes in Ecclesiastes, that there's nothing new under the sun and that people's memories of the past will eventually fade. Because of that, Father, I pray that You would strengthen me by Your Word and Spirit to be concerned for today and hope for tomorrow so that I might live in Your love and forgiveness and share it vigorously and winsomely with others. Lead many to come to faith in Jesus as their only hope for anything "new" in their lives. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.