By Bill Brandstatter
It’s time again to reflect. We are all reflecting on 2020 and hoping for much better in 2021. With the distribution of a COVID 19 vaccine, hopefully, there will be some degree of normalcy restored in 2021. Christmas is over and the New Year is here. We will hear a lot of reflections about 2020 in the coming weeks. Already, I have heard about movie or television stars we have lost in the past year. I am sure that in coming weeks there will be lists of the best and the worst of the past year. I would like to make some predictions for the New Year. These predictions are based on the ever-changing cycles of events. All these will come true at some point this new year.
There will be a lot of births and deaths in 2021. Solomon wrote about this and stated that there is ...“a time to be born and a time to die...” in Eccl. 3:2. One estimate is that there are 255 babies born every minute in our world. They, of course, will all be beautiful babies. Likewise, there will be people who die in 2021. This is something that has happened from the dawn of time. We don’t know the day or hour of our death; but all of us will one day die. (Heb. 9:27) The time for many will come in the New Year. If we are prepared, we need not fear death; but remember that it is like sleep and we wake up in another place (Jn. 11:11-15).
Change will come in the New Year. Just the fact that it is a new year means change. We will be another year older. There will be changes in our government. We will apparently have a new President and Vice President. We might change jobs or locations. We might decide to retire. Everyone will face some change in life. The only thing certain about life is that change will come. Christians look for that change that will be out of this world. (1 Cor. 15:51-52)
There will be weather-related problems before 2021 is over. So far during our winter season we have felt the brunt of cold weather. Some areas have experienced snow and bad travel conditions. The Psalms record for us that “He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes” (Psa. 147:16). Some areas of our country and the world will get snowfall in 2021. When they do, we are reminded that even though our sins are as scarlet, they can be white as snow. (Isa. 1:18) God can wash away our sins and make us pure and white as snow.
God will still love us in 2021. God loves the world. He wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4). Unfortunately, not all the world loves God. Let us think back on 2020 and the ways in which God showed His love for us. Even in the midst of the pandemic, God was there. Let us remember the ways He blessed us and the ways He continues to do so. Let us remember the words of the Hebrews writer, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).
He sent His Son to die for us. All that obey His son will have a hope of seeing God one day. Let’s be faithful to Him and we’ll receive a crown (Rev. 2:10). We will then be ready for whatever the New Year brings.
It’s time again to reflect. We are all reflecting on 2020 and hoping for much better in 2021. With the distribution of a COVID 19 vaccine, hopefully, there will be some degree of normalcy restored in 2021. Christmas is over and the New Year is here. We will hear a lot of reflections about 2020 in the coming weeks. Already, I have heard about movie or television stars we have lost in the past year. I am sure that in coming weeks there will be lists of the best and the worst of the past year. I would like to make some predictions for the New Year. These predictions are based on the ever-changing cycles of events. All these will come true at some point this new year.
There will be a lot of births and deaths in 2021. Solomon wrote about this and stated that there is ...“a time to be born and a time to die...” in Eccl. 3:2. One estimate is that there are 255 babies born every minute in our world. They, of course, will all be beautiful babies. Likewise, there will be people who die in 2021. This is something that has happened from the dawn of time. We don’t know the day or hour of our death; but all of us will one day die. (Heb. 9:27) The time for many will come in the New Year. If we are prepared, we need not fear death; but remember that it is like sleep and we wake up in another place (Jn. 11:11-15).
Change will come in the New Year. Just the fact that it is a new year means change. We will be another year older. There will be changes in our government. We will apparently have a new President and Vice President. We might change jobs or locations. We might decide to retire. Everyone will face some change in life. The only thing certain about life is that change will come. Christians look for that change that will be out of this world. (1 Cor. 15:51-52)
There will be weather-related problems before 2021 is over. So far during our winter season we have felt the brunt of cold weather. Some areas have experienced snow and bad travel conditions. The Psalms record for us that “He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes” (Psa. 147:16). Some areas of our country and the world will get snowfall in 2021. When they do, we are reminded that even though our sins are as scarlet, they can be white as snow. (Isa. 1:18) God can wash away our sins and make us pure and white as snow.
God will still love us in 2021. God loves the world. He wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4). Unfortunately, not all the world loves God. Let us think back on 2020 and the ways in which God showed His love for us. Even in the midst of the pandemic, God was there. Let us remember the ways He blessed us and the ways He continues to do so. Let us remember the words of the Hebrews writer, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).
He sent His Son to die for us. All that obey His son will have a hope of seeing God one day. Let’s be faithful to Him and we’ll receive a crown (Rev. 2:10). We will then be ready for whatever the New Year brings.
- Bill Brandstatter preaches
for the Marion Church of Christ in Marion, IL. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website: http://marionchurchofchrist.com/
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