NEW YEAR

With the entrance of the year 1978 I wish all the subscribers of our church paper the blessing of the Almighty God. We are all dependent upon that blessing in nature and in grace. Because of our original and actual sin we have no right to any blessing. We have sinned away everything, and do so all the time with thoughts, words and deeds. And, even worse, by nature we are not concerned about it. We are dead in trespasses and sins. We are all enemies of God, and, alas, we feel no need for Him. Our life is a thoughtless life. We can never describe the depth of our fall in our covenant-head Adam. Living under the truth, we confess something of it, but the practice of it is lacking. All those things become reality for us when the Holy Spirit quickens us. Then He opens our eyes for our deplorable state and condition: that we have sinned against a holy, righteous and merciful God, and are without God in the world, soon to appear before His highest Majesty, Who must maintain His righteousness, and therefore must cast us away from before Him, so that we shall open our eyes in that place where the worm shall never die, and the fire shall never be quenched. Oh, what a terrible future for each and every one who dies as he was born!

However, we are still on this side of death and the grave, and the door of grace is still open. An unconverted man can be converted today by the almighty power of the Most high God.

The world of today is in a terrible condition. There are wars and rumors of wars. The whole world is in disorder, because we have forsaken the Lord, transgressed His commandments, and in general men do not acknowledge the Lord. “No God and no master” is all that we hear. We have turned our backs to the Lord, what wisdom is in us? One of our deceased ministers once said, “The world has become old and cold, and the devil bold”.

More and more we see before our eyes what Christ has foretold about the times preceding His return on the clouds of heaven. The love of many has waxed cold and sin is increasing, and that in a manner as it has never been seen before, murders, robberies, divorces, and living unnatural lives, as in the days of Sodom and Gormorrah. We read of it in Psalm 82: “They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are out of course.” “Land, land, land, hear the Word of the Lord.”

May the Lord graciously open our ears and hearts for the voice of the Lord, so that we all, rulers and subjects, do not further harden our hearts, but bow before Him in true humility. For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven, when the Lord shall bring a destruction over the world greater than ever before. The majority of the people cry, “Peace, peace”, when the Lord in His Word says there is no peace.

There is still a church on earth, and that church shall remain until the end of the world. We know there are many church buildings, but there is only one true church, chosen by the Father, purchased by the Son, and gathered and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and only by regeneration can we be living members of that church. Over the church militant hangs a heavy veil of darkness. The Spirit is departing, but not entirely gone. We hear little of His public working in true conversion and in establishing God’s work in the hearts of His children. “Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.” Ps. 141:7. It is not because of the sin of that minister, or that elder or deacon, but it is because of our sins that God is hiding his face. We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly. Alas, the trouble is that nobody is guilty. It is all our neighbor’s fault. They have done it. Indeed, we need not go to school to learn to blame another. It is deeply inbred in us. Guilt is such an ugly monster that no one wants it in his house.

But what a blesing it is when the Lord sends a prophet as with David in 2 Sam. 12. Then we admit, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Oh, that in this year it might take place in our heart, and in our families, also in relation to the church, to the country, our nation and its people. Then there would be hope, also for a poor and guilty sinner. When we do not feel our guilt, Christ and His precious blood has no value, no necessity, and no preciousness for our soul.

That this year might be the year of God’s good pleasure for ourselves personally, but also for our families. That the Lord might work with His Spirit in many hearts, that they may be reconciled with God and be restored into communion and fellowship with Him, before the fierce anger of the Lord be upon us, before the day of the Lord’s anger come upon us. (Zeph. 2:2) May the Lord remember the Church, that the truth as it is in Christ Jesus may remain for many generations. Pray therefore that the Lord send forth laborers in His harvest. So many congregations are without a shepherd. Oh, that it became an urgent need in our hearts and among us for ministers and elders, called and anointed by Him. The church needs continually God-fearing office bearers.

Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set (Prov. 22:28). The Lord warns us so seriously to stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls (Jer. 6:16). Hold to simplicity in your daily life, in our families, in our church and in our school. Be careful with all kinds of changes. The religion of our days calls loudly for something new, but avoid it in the strength of the Lord.

May the Lord in this year for His great Name’s sake, for Christ’s sake, and for His covenant’s sake give tokens of His love and favor. May we not forget in our private and public prayers all those that spend their lives to instruct and preach the Word of God, far and near, but especially in the uncivilized countries. The dangers under which they must work are many, and they must sacrifice much, also for their families. We must think about all the nurses who work among the sick, and who must wrestle with many problems. May it all be to the extension of God’s Kingdom.

We would include all those who labor in sending forth the Word of God as is done by the committee of the Inheritance Publishers, who have carried on this work for so many years, and also the Macedonia Mission society in the East, which sends out thousands of sermons. Then there is also the work of preparing our church paper, The Banner of Truth, every month, and the printing and distributing the tracts. All these activities cannot be done without the help of the Lord, nor will they be of any profit without His blessing.

May the Lord bless all these means, that His Kingdom come and the work of the devil may be broken down. May He give among our churches and friends continual prayer and liberality to support all these labors with collections and gifts. The earth must be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. There lies also a calling for us!

May He remember the principals of our schools with the teachers, boards, and children. May there still be a blessing in it as in the new wine, as we read in Isaiah 65:8, and in the first ripe fruit as in the days of old (Micah 7:1).

We know it is all forfeited, but the Lord Who has delight in mercy in His beloved Son Jesus Christ may show mercy and confirm His work in the hearts of His chosen people. May He add to the church many that shall be saved. May He preserve us from self-deception, may He make hypocrites into sinners, and enemies into friends, and haters into lovers.

May the Lord prepare you and me to meet Him in righteousness and peace to His honor, and to the rejoicing of our heart.

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