New Year…New Life…New Hope

Happy New Year!

I wonder how many times that was said when the clock struck 12:00am? I wonder what all became new at 12:00am other than the number on the calendar that moved from 2014 to 2015. I wonder how many babies were born at or just after midnight around the world. I wonder how many dreams were born.

I’ve seen people’s dreams and goals and resolutions for the New Year posted on Facebook. I’ve seen hope expressed for a better year than the one they just lived thru. I’ve seen hope for another good year. I’ve seen plans to fulfill lifelong dreams and plans to begin to dream.

And as the New Year begins…I’ve seen people celebrating and people grieving. I’ve seen people expressing joy and people expressing despair. I’ve seen the same things I saw yesterday.

Is new really just a number on the clock or a date on the calendar?

Plenty of people set goals and resolutions to begin the new year.

Plenty of people will break those goals before the week is up.

Nothing new about that…

Plenty of people will make a promise to love better.

Plenty of people will break that promise before the day is up.

Nothing new about that…

That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun. – Ecclesiastes 1:9

Nothing new? Where is the hope for a new year if everything stays the same? Where is the hope for a new year if there is nothing new under the sun? Where is the hope for reconciliation and progress and redemption if there is nothing new under the sun? Where is the hope for hope when its been lost if nothing ever changes?

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. – 2 Corinthians 5:17

¹⁷ “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. – Isaiah 65:17

⁴ Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. – Romans 6:4

For You are my hope, O Lord GOD;
You are my trust from my youth. – Psalm 71:5

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord. – Jeremiah 17:7

⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. – Romans 5:5

Happy New Year! May your year be full of all the newness that He provides! May your heart be filled with hope and joy enough to share! May God’s goodness and love fill every part of your life in 2015…and beyond!