To the new year, 2025
I put the words below on Facebook last night about 8:50pm. I’m wondering if they will stay on….I guess I will know soon enough. I did promise some folks eternal life.
Jan.1, 2025
After thinking over things for the new year, I think I will also join it, as I have for the last 82 years.
Join in the fun, join in the trials, join in the not-so-fun. There may be successes, I look for them. There may be triumphs for the Lord, I do so want them. There almost assuredly may be sorrows, I can endure them. There may be disappointments from those we expected to bring victory. People will sometimes let us down, but we already know that.
The world we live in has a not-so-nice ruler over the events here in this lowly place. Our bible calls him “the god of this world;” also refers to him as the “prince of the power of the air..” — Plainly he is known as satan, the devil, Lucifer was his Heavenly name until iniquity was found in him. Now, he’s attempting his final try to usurp the power of God our Saviour.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” has provided words which we can say and the usurper can never remove their power, never negate them nor bring them to nought. When God gave these words to the Apostle Paul by revelation through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, He bestowed them to us who believe—“..how that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, And was buried, and that he was raised again the third day, according to the Scriptures. “
Then Paul, being led continually by the Holy Spirit, reiterated those words with all the wisdom God had bestowed on him. such as, “He was delivered for our trespasses, and was raised again for our justification.” and Oh, the power which rises to the fore when these words are repeated in the ears of unbelievers !!
So we can speak the words of eternal life to all we come in contact with during the coming 365 days. We can assure them that Christ has paid the price for every sin we have committed and the ones we will, no doubt, commit during this coming year, ad infinitum. We don’t need to count them, nor recall them the at the Lord nor to another human. He has already received the payment, the sacrifice of His own Son, with His own blood and proved it to all of us by resurrecting Christ and Him showing Himself alive to those who worshipped.
Leaving us with sacred words we find in our King James bible, words which never denigrate His name nor His finished work. Did you hear? That’s the truth, the gospel of your salvation. If you will just believe these words, and place your eternal life in his finished work, God will save you, eternally.’
Trust Christ now.
At least, here on the blog I pay for the privilege of writing what I want and what I believe and leave it only to be brought into question by the Lord Himself, or you the reader. If you think I said those things in error, please tell me why and what. I will not ignore you, I will not belittle your thoughts, and I will answer you with god’s written word.
You know, the Lord knew that people like me, and hopefully you, are just simple enough to believe simple things and thereby be bestowed with God’s greatest gift! The Apostle Paul worried over the Corinthian Church, that they might get drawn away from the “simplicity that is in Christ.” He worried over them because he knew the subtlety which will be used by satan—that dude will try to get people to think God needed their help in saving you. But, you know, don’t you, that He charged His own Son, Jesus with the total cost and Jesus paid it all!, (as the song says.)
Back to the new year; just a couple of thoughts. Woke up this morning with my bed mates 3: my wife, our dog, Bessie and our new addition kitten, Tilly. All 3 of them wanted me to wake up and be ready to start the year, I guess. So, let’s go!
Hard to start a new year with a loss, but an almost life-long good friend from my hometown in Indiana passed away. He and I go way back and if I write about growing up, often it includes his family and their parallel to my own. He was a bit older (7yrs.), but a great friend. He received Christ as his Savior at about age 30, I believe and after I started preaching we had some really good annual fellowship. Our plan for this week was to go to Indiana for his memorial service, but weather tells us, “no, don’t drive up there.” So, much as I hate to admit it……I often pray for others in his family which have spoken to me negatively about Christ, and now when I remember him, I will still pray for two remaining brothers.
I have many hopes and expectations for 2025 as I’m sure you do, also. Hey! Let’s do some of them together, whaddya say?!
Thanks for reading, the Elder
the Elder's Blog 