“Goodbye, 2016, Hello 2017”
our control. Job was right when he said in Job 14:1 “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.”
But it is that very undeniable fact that makes me draw even more comfort from the Lord’s promise in Hebrews 13:5 that He will never leave us nor forsake us. And so we draw to the end of this 365 day journey together, heartaches and all. And, somehow, we humans manage to muster a sense of optimism each and every time we get here, somehow certain that things will be better next time around.
But, 2016, I have been thinking. Maybe we can make that proposition much less of a blind hope, and much more of a likely reality. Maybe if we make the right resolutions, 2017 can be our best year yet. So will you do me a favor, 2016? Check out these plans for 2017, and tell me what you think.
For starters, I am going to spend a lot more time actually seeing and exploring this amazing world God created for us. Genesis 1:31 tells me “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” I know it is, but this year I want to actually see it.
Walk some mountain trails? Check. Go to the coast and marvel at the grandeur while wiggling my toes in the sand? Definitely. I will also stand outside in the winter cold and look heavenward at the amazing display of stars, find a cavern to tour, and stick my head under a waterfall.
Next, I intend to make gratitude an absolute lifestyle. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells me “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I will do that. I will be thankful to God, family, friends, ministers, police officers, soldiers, waiters, mechanics, everyone with whom I interact each day. Oh, and every cashier will get a warm smile from me even if the service is slow.
Next, I will be “all in” with this church thing. Revelation one through three tells me Jesus walks in the midst of local churches. This year, each time He does, He will find me there. I will not expect a church to be perfect while I tolerate lots of imperfection in family, school, job, and my sports team. If there has ever been such a thing as hypocrisy, that certainly qualifies, and I will not let that kind of thing infect my 2017.
And finally, I will do as much as I can that bears eternal dividends, rather than always focusing on the temporal. I will support missionaries and hand out gospel tracts and pray for sinners to be saved. I will feed the needy in Jesus’ name. I will speak truth kindly, but I will speak that truth even if it is unpopular.
Well, that about wraps it up for now, 2016. Thanks for the memories. And if you have a few spare minutes, do write me back and tell me what you think of my plans for the new year.
Bo Wagner is pastor of the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Mooresboro, N.C., a widely traveled evangelist, and author of several books, including a kid’s fiction book about the Battle of Chickamauga, “Broken Brotherhood.” He may be emailed at 2knowhim@cbc-web.org.