The first morning of the new year we meet together with God to begin life anew. The beauty of the living Christ, coming to us with gifts of faith, hope, and love, reminds us of the glory of the God we serve, the life communicated to us by Christ. Above the kingdoms of the world there rises the kingdom of sunshine and the perfumed breezes from the courts of heaven. We are called to enjoy the unsearchable and inexhaustible riches of Christ. We serve the King of kings. In us and through us He is marching to victory.
Our faith is well founded. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Heb. 11:13). We are like travelers coming suddenly to brow of a hill. We see far away the horizon, distant but visible, the city to which we are going. Or like sailors upon some stormy sea, coming on deck in the morning, we see lying across the waves a faith outline of what we know to be the land where our haven lies. Throughout this new year let us reach out with sure hope of the soon return of our Lord.
“But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, 0 Lord, in an acceptable time: 0 God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of my salvation” (Psalm 69:13).
Let us keep clear before us the Vision of the kingdom of God. Decay is written upon the portals of the world we life in, but not upon the cause of Christ. We are not stumbling sheep making our way in the gathering darkness toward the fold. Christ is everything to us. We are sure that we are in Christ. Christ, to excel in all that. elevates us. We covet earnestly the best gifts. With Christ we seek to acquire the full stature that He has promised. All are yours, and ye are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. We do not isolate life. We enrich life. We are more than ever devoted to the service of God and humanity. Ever power and every gift that God has given us is awakened by the power of His love. We have an anchor within the veil, secure by no finite will, but by the power of the Holy spirit within us.
Edward Heppenstall
from “In Touch With God”, January 1
