New Year’s Meditation

Beloved Friends:

Another year has run its course, and together we have entered upon a new year. It is indeed true that we spend our years as a tale that is told. Everything here below seems like a fleeting thought; and the older we get, the faster time seems to fly. We live in a busy world, and life itself is always busy. One year after another passes by and carries us further away from the moment we entered this life. By the same token, it carries us closer to the hour in which we shall make the great transition from time to eternity. For the world, things are getting darker by the day. The end of all things is close at hand.

The world is creaking from old age, and the coming of the Son of Man is at hand. Peace has been removed from the earth, and in practically every church unrest and discord are rampant. All things point to the fact that the devil has but a little span left to rule mankind. But in the midst of, and in spite of, everything, God carries out His counsel; and man remains responsible for his actions.

What the year we have just entered is going to bring us is only known in heaven. We do not know the counsel of the Lord, but one thing is certain, and that is, that the hour is approaching when we shall be called to appear before God. The world passes away, and so do all its glories. Soon everything will go up in flames. All churches, and all religion that is no more than mere religion, will come crashing down. When the Bridegroom comes, all the lamps of the foolish virgins will go out. What an awful darkness that will be for those who shall be left standing outside. Then the time of grace has ended and no store will be open to buy oil. O, that mankind in general, and we in particular, might realize the seriousness of reality! God will judge the world; but what about the visible Church? O, that there might appear a shipmaster to shake us all awake! How many consciences are totally seared! Many people have well-nigh no consciousness of death and eternity any more, nor any impression of the necessity to be reconciled with God by the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. A year lies behind us which was full of blessings; but it was also a year in which the Lord spoke to us through His judgments. However, with shame and perplexity we must admit that neither His blessings nor His judgments have humbled us in the dust.

The inhabitants of the world did not fall prostrate, and neither have we occupied the right place. Truly, when we are given to have a good look at our condition, then there will not be much time left, and far less desire, to concern ourselves with others. All those who discover the malady of their own hearts, and become aware of their alienation from God, wish at such moments that they were nothing but tears, to bewail before God their awful sin and guilt. Then it is not difficult to acknowledge: “I have sinned greatly in that I have done:… for I have done very foolishly.” As long as we consider someone else the guilty party, things are not right with us, and we continue to be Pharisees.

May God by His Holy Spirit cast us down from the high mountains of self-righteousness and self-satisfaction, and may He guide us into the valley of deep humility and self-abhorrence before the countenance of the Lord. May we, like Ezra, fall prostrate to the ground; because then we would acknowledge God’s righteousness and have a pleasure in the punishment of our unrighteousness. Then we would abhor all the religion that originates in our own bowels and not from the true principles of the fear of God. Then there would be a true departing from sin and a forsaking of the paths of unrighteousness. Then the true prayer would be born: “Draw me, we will run after thee”; and also a prayer for the remnant that is still to be found. And then, too, God would grant us to wrestle with Him in behalf of our dear relations and for God’s Zion which now lives as though in exile. But above all, then God’s honor would become our greatest concern and we would in truth learn to pray: “Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven!”

May the Covenant God in this new year remember us for the sake of the blood of the covenant, to the honor of His Name, which is worthy to receive all praise, thanksgiving, and adoration. May the blessed Christ, as the exalted Mediator and King, wield His scepter from sea to sea, and from the rivers to the ends of the earth. May it be the year of the good pleasure of the Lord in our hearts, in our homes, in our congregations, and in the midst of the world. The favor of the Lord strengthens more than the choicest food. And even if this year should be one in which God would send us adversities, if but our souls would cleave unto the Lord, this would be more profitable than all outward prosperity. What we presently see is many healthy bodies and starving souls. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” The mercies of God are better than life itself.

May God convert many souls, expose the hypocrites, cut off, incorporate, and accept His people, so that they may base their hope and trust not on what took place in the past, but solely on Christ, who is the life of His people. “Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!”

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen