THE PAST several months left many uncertainties in its wake.
We lost loved ones—and taking or not taking the vaccine became the elephant in the room.
Governments, businesses and families had to decide on what to do.
MANY OFFICES had to shut their doors. And 'sorry, we are closed' became the dominant theme.
Suddenly, our priorities changed, and we realized that we could do things differently.
IN OUR absence, other things took our place.
People saw wild animals walking the streets, and others in India could see the Himalayas from their end. For once, there was no smog.
AT A POINT, it was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop—but after a while, the silence became deafening. So we began to seek for the noise.
WE HAD to social distance. But, when we kept our distance from one another, God knew that we were vulnerable.
He never left our side. He never shut his door to our cries, our fears and frailties.
God was kind to us—and I say, "Thank you to Him."
WHEN OUR founding parents sinned, God showed them mercy.
First, he pronounced a judgment with a promise that only He could keep.
"I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel," he said. (Gen. 3:15)
Then, he covered them with sheep's skin. (Gen. 3:21)
God planned on reconciling us back to Himself—and when He sent His Son, He changed the dynamics. So, He made the second Adam a life-giving spirit. (2 Cor. 5:18; 1 Cor. 15:45)
Is it by works?
AT THE WELL of Samaria, he opened the door to the Gentiles. Jesus dialogued with a Samaritan woman.
And when he asked her for water, she was shocked.
If she knew who was asking her for water, she would have asked for something greater.
Then, she bragged about how long and hard it was for their fathers to dig and keep the well. (John 4:1-26)
But Jesus made her understand it wasn't anything she had to do but what His Father had done. (Eph. 2:8-9)
What did the Father do?
THERE WAS no other way to reconcile us back to Himself when we sinned, so He sent His Son to take our place.
And he who knew no sin became sin that we may become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (2 Cor. 5:21)
Who do you worship?
SHE WANTED to know where to worship, but he told her they worship what they do not know. (John 4:22)
Salvation is of the Jews. Therefore, if you do not seek the Father, you do not worship.
What do you do?
WHEN HIS DISCIPLES returned with food, they gathered around him and wondered why he would openly break the custom by speaking with this Woman.
When they urged him to have some food, and he wouldn't eat, they thought someone had brought him food.
But he said, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and bring it to completion." (John 4:34)
His job was cut out for him—and for His days, he lived in the shadow of the cross. (John 10:18)
What is the Father's Will?
JESUS CAME to finish what the Father had started.
"This is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me but raise it on the last day." (John 6:39)
Few words are these comforting.
God's will for you is that you look unto the Son and believe in Him so that you can have eternal life—and He will raise you on the last day. (John 6:40)
What do you believe?
JESUS CHRIST is the second Adam—and He is a life-giving spirit.
The Woman at the well looked unto Him and believed.
To be reconciled back to God, you must believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and confess Him as Lord. (Rom. 10:10)
Ask Him to forgive you and invite Him to be your Lord and Saviour.
If you have done this, you are now a believer in Christ; what a way to start a new year.
Thank Him for not shutting the door.
Happy New Year!