Hi Friends !
Please forgive the recent radio silence. For me (and the team), Christmas and New Year was an imposed and welcome time for undivided family attention and recuperation. Although we have all been working from home during this extended season of non-travel, it does not always mean that we have had uninterrupted time with the family. In fact, the needs around the world, and the extensive opportunities to share the love of Christ with those in crisis, hunger, poverty (physical and spiritual), along with the many needs of those who do the sharing... have vastly increased our time online and in detailed communication. It would seem that many came to Christmas and the turn of the new year in a state of emotional fatigue. However, it also seems that a binary choice was made on January 1st by every creature who lives on the planet. Where is our hope for this year, and on what basis do we expect 2021 to be a good year?
Option 1: Follow the fireworks.
We expected New year’s eve to be a quiet affair inside the Hughes home. Sadly however, our lovely cocker spaniel "Harvey" struggles with anxiety and especially around “firework night”. This year fireworks went off here almost constantly from mid-September to the beginning of December, but this was nothing compared to the Beirut style pyrotechnics offered up by the Christchurch posse at the turn of the year. Within the space of several hours the sky lit up with a myriad of colourful distractions.
As Harvey hunkered down to cry for it to stop, I cried for the amount of money being poured down the pan. Had I finally succumbed to Scrooges humbug/ spoilsport attitude, or was it just the knowledge of many people in world / in ministry across the world, who are struggling to find their next meal ?
There are many in our country in great need, but there are many who have absolutely no idea and live in ignorant bliss. People marvelled at David Attenborough’s voiceover with the London drone display, and of course I hesitate to be anything other than positive about him. The 94 year old is somewhat worshipped by our nation. He said this…
“We can make a world of difference. Together, we can turn things around. Together, we can restore our fragile home and make it a happy new year for all the inhabitants of planet Earth.”
As clever and visually captivating as it all was, the sentiment for me was nothing more than escapism from the reality, as mankind obviously said "the planet is our saviour, we are in control and can make this better". Ironically as Sir David’s voice faded out, the noise of many London sirens took over. As the vapour dispersed, and the hangovers emerged... 2021 revealed that we still live in a fallen world, where suffering will be the human condition until that day when The Servant King (who knows total suffering) calls time on this failing planet.
How do you go into this New Year? With blind optimism, faith in yourself being unfalteringly brilliant, humanity being the answer to the globe? Are we the only possible answer?
I suggest with some knowledge of the problems within my own soul, and the brokenness of what we see in the news around us…that we need more. Don't look to fill your life in 2021 with distractions which deny the blatantly obvious.
Option 2: Follow the Faithful one
The Christian life is built on the solid foundation of two great certainties...
a) That I am
(when all said and done)... a failure of a human being, in need of the rescue of
God myself. Yes I show the beauty of a creator who is unimaginably glorious, but I am a poor and damaged reflector of His glory.
b) That He is unerringly faithful, gracious, all-powerful, totally able and unimaginably forgiving.
The Christian life is not without challenge, in fact in many ways it is about starring fear in the face, by faith and in the help of God.
ISAIAH 41: 10
“FEAR NOT .... FOR...
I AM WITH YOU
Be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you
I will uphold you with my righteous hand.”
The more I read the bible, the more I hear the voice of God say...
"fear not!".
It is a phrase plastered from cover to cover, and the more you read of what God has said, done, and is doing the more you hear the certainty in the phrase every time it appears. As any Christian looking to God in faith gets older, with the arrival of each new year, the foundation of God's certainty feels more secure.
God does not disappoint. Faith breeds faith, when it is in the one who never fails.
In coming days, we will give detailed information about how our faithful God is using His people to change this world for the better in times of great crisis. It is all of Him, and to Him belongs all the glory and gratitude.
For now though let's fix our eyes on Him, and enjoy the certainty of God in uncertain times. I am confident that God has great things in store for those who trust Him alone for 2021. My confidence is in Him and not myself. With this there is great and lasting joy!
Praying for
you in 2021, and expectant of what God will do. His beauty will outshine and outlast any firework display. So we go forward in sure hope and increasing confidence.
BLOGSKI
