Are We Ready?

Are We Ready

Ephesians 5:15-18

Today’s message is to answer the question, “Are we ready for the coming new year?” And then, what are we expecting given the uncertainty surrounding this current pandemic?

I heard a story of a son who had called his parents to wish them a Happy New Year. As he was talking to his dad he asked, “What is your New Year’s Resolution,” to which his dad replied, “To make your mother as happy as I can all year.”

Now, that is what most people would say is a caring and loving husband.

When the son got his mother on the phone he asked her the same question, to which she replied, “My resolution is to make sure your dad keeps his New Year’s Resolution.”

And that is what we may call one encouraging wife!

Throughout the years, there have been various predictions as to what the next year would bring, or at least, what the future holds.

Back in 1967 experts predicted that by the turn of the century technology would have taken over so much of the work load that the average American work week would only be 22 hours long, and that we would work only 27 weeks a year. Therefore, the biggest problem that would face a person is what to do with all that leisure time.

Talk about missing the mark. The truth is that most of us are busier than ever just trying to stay afloat, and it seems that we’re always in a hurry. We walk fast, talk fast, and eat fast.

And so, here’s the question, “Have we made our New Year’s Resolution?”

For me, I really never make New Year Resolutions because I always found out that I could never really keep them for more that a couple of weeks, and if I was really lucky, maybe a couple of months. And it wasn’t because I had no will power, but rather it was because circumstances beyond my control happened which put all my plans on the back burner, if not in the trash.

And I think I can safely say that this is what happened in 2020.

Even here at Living Waters Fellowship we ended 2019 well and we were having a strong beginning to 2020 when the wheels fell off because of the Coronavirus. But we all thought, because of what was presented to us that it wouldn’t last all that long, and we could get back to some sort of normalcy in the not too distant future, like a couple of months.

And why we can put all the conspiracy theories out there as to the reason, and whether they are right or wrong, the reality is that we are still in the midst of the pandemic, with lockdowns throughout our country. Actually it is throughout the world.

And so, as we approach 2021 we do so, with not only anticipation, but also with a lot more dread than hope.

Now, I’m not one for making predictions, but what I think is safe to say that as a whole, we’re not going to be going back to the way things were, or back to our old way of doing things, but rather we’re looking ahead to a whole new normal, whether it is right or wrong, it is still going to be the way of things for quite some time.

So, with this in mind, how are we to approach this upcoming year of 2021, or better yet, does the Bible give us some good advice as to what and how we are to operate given the current uncertainty in our world.

I think the answer is yes, and it can be found in what the Apostle Paul tells us in the 5th chapter of the book of Ephesians.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:15-18 NIV)

Paul begins by telling us to not only to be careful, but to be “very” careful. Which is good advice when it comes to the future. We don’t know what to expect, because while we have 20/20 hindsight, we’ve got little foresight. You see, what has happened is that we have been in the reaction mode in what has been going on, rather than being proactive.

In other words, rather than reacting to what is going on around us, we need to start doing what is right regardless of what we perceive the consequences might be. I guess what I’m trying to say is that instead of letting God’s word lead us in these times, we let our opinions and the opinions of others sway our decision making process.