A NEW YEAR

A new year.  Whoop-te-do.  I am so excited.  I mean, it’s not like this hasn’t happened before.  I have more than one new year under my belt.  We never were the big, fancy party type.  We were more the stay at home, kiss at midnight, and go to bed type.  Now we are the go-to bed at our regular time and figure we’ll tell each other Happy New Year when we get up.  It just isn’t that big of a deal.  Should it be?

Why is a NEW year any different than a NEW month or week or day? Do we really believe that one second, on the clock, … one second that separates 2024 from 2025 is that important?  Is a second that important?  IT MOST CERTAINLY IS!

Our prayer for 2025 is that in one second, two world leaders will shake hands and there will be peace.  Our prayer is that in one second, a scientist will shout, “Eureka!  I have found the cure for cancer.”  Our prayer is that in one second, a baby will take a breath and live.  Our prayer is that in one second, hearts will be changed and turn from hate and violence.  Our prayer is that in one second, we will live in a world where life is valuable and humanity is a way of life.

Matthew 25:1-13 is the parable about the wedding feast.  Cliff notes: While waiting for the bridegroom to appear, the virgins had their lamps.  There was one slight problem.  Five of the ten had not filled their lamps.  When the bridegroom was coming, those five did not have enough oil and had to go buy some.  The bridegroom arrived, the door to the banquet room was shut, and the banquet began.  Sadly, those that were not prepared were too late.

One second! One second and the open door was shut.  Can you imagine being one second away from the door?  Can you imagine the sound the closing of the door made?  One second!

World peace would be amazing.  A cure for cancer would be wonderful.  A baby loved enough to be allowed to live would be ….  No more hate and violence would be … Having respect for life and a heart for humanity would be …

BUT our prayer for 2025 should be that all would see God in a rose, in a field of corn, in the sky, in the ocean, and in the stars and say, “God is real.”

BUT our prayer for 2025 should be that all would hear the Word of God and find His love.

BUT our prayer for 2025 should be that all who believe in the birth of God’s Son, Jesus, and in Jesus’ resurrection from the grave would spread the Good News using their words and their actions.

BUT our prayer for 2025 should be that all would open their hearts and minds to the truth and believe.

BUT our prayer for 2025 should be that all accept Jesus as their Savior before the door closes.

Is one second important?  Ask the virgins that left to get lamp oil.  Is one second important?  Ask the virgins what it was like to see and hear the door close.  Is one second important?  I guess it depends on which side of the door you are on.

AFTER THE BLOG WAS WRITTEN:

I was telling some of my family about this blog and our son-in-law said a second didn’t matter and then said maybe in our faith life but not so much in our secular life.  We have some good discussions, on scripture, and usually agree.  Since Christmas I have been thinking about this and disagree that a second does not matter in our secular life.  I pointed out, in the blog, that a door can shut in a second.  But what about our day to day lives?  Does a second matter?

In one second, a decision can be made to text and drive.  And a wreck can happen.  And a family might be killed.  And a parent might cry over their dead child.  Or the decision can be to text later.

In one second, a decision can be made to join the crowd and take that pill.  And a girl can end up raped.  And a boy becomes addicted.  And a life is changed forever.  Or a decision can be made to walk away.

In one second, a decision can be made to ignore your loved ones or the friends you are with, as you scroll endless posts on pages by people you have never met.  And your spouse feels rejected.  And your children feel ignored.  And your friends wonder why they are there.  Or the decision can be made that the time with your family and friends is valuable.

One second separates 2024 from 2025.  In one second, a decision can be made … and a life changed … as the right or wrong path is taken.