New Year, New You!

In just a few hours from now fireworks will light up the night sky, champagne corks will pop, horns and whistles will blow, hugs and kisses will be exchanged and well wishes for a Happy New Year will be on the lips of many the world over. Behind this annual celebration is the hope and expectation that the New Year will bring about a change of fortune, as well as, an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start afresh. Even advertisers and purveyors of self-improvement products and services get a piece of the action by promising to fulfill the wishes of customers who desire to transform themselves "from the old me into a new me." But 364 days down the road, the unfortunate reality is that human will and human effort alone is not enough to prevent us from falling short of our desired goal to transform our lives and to make them better.

Man's attempts at self-improvement are often rooted in the superficial and the external. We think change is a matter of our will. If we will ourselves to stop this or start that, we think that this is enough to produce the change we desire. But if that were the case, the first diet you tried would have worked or the first time you decided to stop smoking, drinking or the like would have been enough to produce sobriety in you. And yet, every new year, we find ourselves back at the same place, reciting the same vows, trying to make the same changes we promised to make a year ago.

What's wrong with us? The answer lies in the fact that the created cannot recreate itself---for that, we need the Creator. In Psalm 34, King David recognizes his inability to change his ways and so seeks the help of his Creator: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me (Ps 51:10 KJV)." David recognized that without God's help he would continue to be lost in his sins. Paul explains the dilemma we all face as human beings in this world: "I have discovered this principle of life---that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh what a miserable person I am. Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God. The answer is in Jesus Christ, our Lord! (Rom 7:21-25 NLT)"

The only way you can become a new you in this new year is by surrendering your life to Christ who alone has the power to make all things new. For the sinner, he will cleanse you and forgive you of all your sins. For the Christian who has strayed, he will forgive you of your sins and restore you to the family of God. You don't have to wait until the clock strikes 12 midnight for your new life to begin. It can begin right now with a simple prayer of confession. Happy New You!

Where Are the Shepherds When We Need Them?

The White House announced recently that the Presidential holiday card would expressly omit any mention of Christmas or Jesus' birth. The words and meaning behind "Merry Christmas" has been replaced by "Happy Holidays" in almost every facet of American life today. Nativity scenes have come under attack and are illegal in some public places in many communities across this nation. The commemoration of Jesus' birth has become sadly, even for some Christians, a day of tree trimming and gift giving without a pause to honor the greatest gift of all. And like the Presidential card, Christians send out greeting cards full of holiday cheer, and no mention of the joy that came into the world when Christ was born.

The proclamation of Jesus' birth did not end with the shepherds. As 21st century Christians, we have a calling to proclaim this gospel message until the day of Christ's return. During this most holy of Christian observances, we have an opportunity to declare the real reason for the season: that Christ came into the world to save sinners. How can we sit on our salvation while there are still so many even at our doorstep who don't know Jesus Christ as Savior? The Shepherds left their sheep, and probably lost their jobs, to spread the Good News of Christ's coming. The words, "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life," still have power to change lives in any season. This is the message of Christmas that Christians should be telling the world.

We must take a stand for Christmas, refusing to allow the world to dictate who, what and how we should celebrate. When someone says, "Happy Holiday" to you, don't be ashamed to respond with, "And may you have a blessed Christmas" or the like." As you gather around the Christmas tree with family and friends, read the story of the birth of Christ found in the Gospels before opening your gifts. As we honor the Savior, we can proclaim with the angels "Peace on earth, goodwill toward men."