“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6. This verse both contains a definition of faith as well as an attitude of faith that should guide us into 2009. Faith is not only defined as a belief in the existence of God, it is defined as an attitude of eager expectation as from one who is seeking a reward. Because the righteous live by faith, this verse gives us important guidance as to how we should view and live out 2009.
This attitude of eager expectation can be expanded into three components. There certainly are more components, but this should cover enough colors for this picture.
We should live victoriously! “but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:57. “… much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17. “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37
We should live joyfully! “Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:11.
We should live in comfort! Heidelberg Catechism Question and Answer 1 states: “Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death? Answer. That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.” “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” II Corinthians 1:3-4.
But, how do we handle troubles? Do we just deny that they will occur? Do we ignore them when they do occur?
There are many verses which comfort us about such troubles and afflictions. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 34:19: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.” (Emphasis added.)
In addition to knowing that the LORD will deliver us out of all of our troubles, Romans 8:18 encourages us to put our troubles in a comparison perspective: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Moreover, not only are our afflictions light and momentary, our afflictions work for glory. II Corinthians 4:17 promises us: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory…”.
So, in summary, our troubles and afflictions are light, momentary, and not worthy of being compared to the glory to be revealed to us, and God uses them to work in us “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” and then finally delivers us from them after they accomplish their purpose.
Finally, in regards to our troubles and our afflictions which I will group as our “downs”, God gives us grace, not only to endure those “downs” but God also gives us grace to a certain extent to forget about those “downs” and view the year as good overall. John 16:21 : “Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.” At the end of 2008, as we forget about the pain (or think less of it), we instead count our blessings and testify that God indeed caused all things to work together for good. Romans 8:28.
How should we view 2009? Should we view it as a roller coaster of “ups and downs”? Should we always be waiting somberly, nervously, and anxiously for some trouble or affliction to pop up?
No!
First, let us use the memory of 2008 to help us form the appropriate attitude for 2009. At the end of 2008, we remember God’s faithfulness and meditate on God’s work in our lives during 2008. We remember God’s guidance, blessings, and protection in 2008. We give thanks at the close of 2008.
Second, let us meditate on God’s promises at the close of 2008 to prepare us for 2009. Here are two promises upon which we should meditate. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32.
In conclusion, let us live by faith in 2009, not viewing the year just as a roller coaster of “ups and downs”, but rather viewing the year and living the year as a son of God, an heir, who reigns victoriously and joyfully and in comfort, eagerly expecting the good things and confident that God will give us every good thing that we need and that God will even work out the bad things for our good.
Happy New Year!
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 