Reflect on the Past but Get a Vision of the Future
Sunday. December 30, 2012
By Rev. James May
As I began to put together the Powerpoint presentation for this message, the first picture that I found to use was so very appropriate. It is a picture of the windshield of a car as it is traveling forward into the world, with a reflection of where it has been in the rearview mirror. The through came to me that life is life that windshield. We must continue to have a forward facing view of where we are going; with a greater vision of the future than of the past. We check the mirror from time to time to see where we’ve been, to remind ourselves of where God has brought us from, but we can’t focus there or the journey ahead will become so much more dangerous.
The ending of the year always brings with it a time of reflection as we look back to see where we have come from and make certain that we are heading into the right direction as another year approaches. Looking back is not always a bad thing; but let us not dwell there, for what is past, is past, and we never go there again. Learn from the mistakes of the past, correct them for the journey into your future, lay aside every disappointment, and renew your vision and your dreams of becoming all that you can be as the Holy Spirit guides your steps in the time to come.
I know that all of us have face some great disappointments and tragedies; and I know that some of other brothers and sisters in Christ are staring tragedy in the face even as I speak. But I am so encouraged by the Grace of God that is shown in every one of them. Some are facing things that would be so crushing except for the Grace of God. God’s grace is sufficient in all things to the Child of God, and that Grace helps Faith to grow even in the midst of the worst trials that you will ever have to face. We look forward to the coming year with great Hope and Anticipation of what God is going to do in us and through us. With Jesus in your Heart; with God on your side; how can the future look any brighter! Jesus said that He would never leave us nor forsake us, even to the very end of the world, and we will be with Him for all eternity.
For Christians, every day that we live means that our relationship with Jesus just grows closer and our love for the Lord gets stronger. And what we all come to realize is that no matter how close we get, or how strong our Love is for Jesus; we have only begun to learn how much we really need him in our lives every hour of the day.
We also know that we have an adversary, the devil, who will try his best to destroy our faith and to cause our love toward Jesus to grow cold. That’s why we must be ever vigilant, always on guard against his attacks; and we must be fully prepared to meet him through the power of the blood of Jesus.
It was announced that the Young Adults are beginning a series of lessons in their meetings this month entitled, “Are You Willing to Pick a Fight with Evil?” It sounds like a great series, but I want to let you all know that whether you’re willing to pick a fight with evil or not; you will have to do just that in the days to come. If you don’t pick the fight; the devil will pick it with you. We had better prepare our hearts and make sure we are full of the Holy Ghost and fire for the days ahead are filled with the storm clouds in this world, and some of them are sure to be a part of the life of every one of us. But don’t let that disturb you.
1 John 4:4, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
You can always lean upon the Word of God, and when those times of tragedy come, or evil decides to try to invade your home, your marriage, your church and even your very soul; there is a great and precious promise that you can lean on. Learn to call on Jesus every time! Learn to lean on Him! Learn to trust in His Word! The more you trust him; the more you lean on Him; the easier it will be to overcome anything that comes against you.
The Holy Spirit moved greatly upon the Prophet Isaiah as the old prophet began to record the thoughts that came to his mind. The words were written by the hand of a man but came from the very heart and mind of Almighty God. Listen to what God has to say to His people. God was speaking at that time to Israel, but God is no respecter of persons, and what He said to Israel; He still says to us today!
Isaiah 59:1, "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:"
We have a Heavenly Father who is always waiting to hear the voice of his children as we call upon his name. He is always ready to come to our side whether it’s in those moments of trials or in those moments of rejoicing, Jesus is always there. And we know that there is nothing too hard for our God to do.
But along with this promise there comes a warning, for all of God’s blessings are conditional upon obedience and true love for God. Just as Israel’s sin; their idolatry; their forgetfulness of God and His Law, caused God’s chosen people to lose the blessings of God for a time, so it could happen to any of us who allow ourselves to become too much in love with the things of this world.
And remember this; sin and iniquity doesn’t always mean that we refuse to serve God and would rather chase after the things of the world.
There are sins of commission – sins that we choose to do that we know are not right in God’s eyes; and there are sins of omission – sins that we commit by just failing to do what we know is right.
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Either way, by commission or omission, the things that enter our hearts that separate us from the blessings of God will have the same effect.
Isaiah 59:2, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."
The encouraging Word to you this morning is that no matter what comes your way; God will be with you if will invite him to be there. And when that fight with evil comes; that time of greatest discouragement; that time when it seems just so hopeless; that time when it seems like the sky is brass and your prayers are getting through, or you can’t seem to hear from God; just remember that God is listening and He already has designs and plans for your ultimate victory in every instance. Look at Isaiah’s words for they contain great promises for us all!
Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
Isaiah 59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and forever.
Wow! What a God we serve! How Great is His Name! God has covenanted with His people, including every Child of God today that His Spirit, that same spirit that was upon Isaiah, that same Holy Ghost that anointed Elijah, the same omnipotent power of Almighty God that is in Jesus, the greatest prophet of all, is now upon us.
The Word of God, placed in our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit will never be lost; but will always be there like a reservoir of living water to draw upon whenever we need to speak out for Jesus; and it will be in our children and children’s children forever! God’s promises never fail! He will do what He has covenanted to do! All we have to do is remain faithful to the end!
The times ahead will certainly be filled with great challenges. We have young people who are maturing spiritually as God is preparing them for a great ministry ahead. No doubt, those who serve God in these last days are going to face some powerful foes and fight some great spiritual battles in time to come should the Lord tarry. Young ministers coming into the church today will face onslaughts of evil like no one has ever faced before. Families are going to come under the attack of the devil as he tries to destroy the family unit that God created in an effort to destroy mankind as a whole. Teen agers, and even small children, are already facing the powers of hell in ways that were never imagined only a few years ago.
But God is lifting that standard against the flood tide of darkness; and there is new light breaking forth; a light that is brighter than the sun; a light that will dispel the darkness and drive back the powers of hell. That standard is the Blood stained banner of the Cross of Christ.
John 12:31-32, "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."
Our duty as soldiers of the cross is to pick our cross and follow Jesus; not showing the cross that we bear; not lifting ourselves up as though we are martyrs for Jesus; but showing forth the crucified and risen Savior to a lost and dying world. We bear the cross as the servants of God because we love the Lord, and our only duty is to preach Jesus, preach repentance and prepare the way of the Lord to come to the hearts and lives of the lost souls around us. If we will lift up Jesus; preach his Grace and Mercy; show the world that Jesus Loves them and they need a Savior, then God will do the rest and draw men to the foot of the cross in repentance. We need not condemn, for they are condemned already. We need to lift their eyes toward the Love of God and the Cross of Christ!
2 Corinthians 10:4-5, "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"
So as we leave the old year behind, with all of its trials, tests and tragedies; let us look for a new tomorrow; one filled with the presence, the glory, the power and the covenant promises of our Father in Heaven for his children.
Let us lay aside every weight that may so easily slow us down. Don’t allow technology to replace Jesus in your life. Don’t allow the things of this world to become so large in your eyes that you can’t see Jesus anymore. Don’t let the things that you may face become so great through worry and fear that you lose sight of Jesus as he beckons you on to victory. Focus on Jesus and His Word and let everything else be secondary, and God will bring you through. Lay everything else aside and come back to your first love; that love for Jesus! Be quick to repent; quick to forgive and slow to anger, letting the Lord fight every battle for you.
Every New Year brings with it a time to begin anew; a time to lay aside the past and look ahead to a brighter and better tomorrow. Of course the same can be said of every minute of every day in the heart of a Child of God. Every minute brings a chance for renewal in Christ; all we have to do is lift up our hearts in repentance; and open our hearts to receive the precious Love of God, for Jesus is always there, ready to answer every call for help, ready to forgive all sin, ready to give us every benefit of being a part of the family of God.
With the passing of every year, and with every tick of the clock, we are drawing closer to the coming of the Lord. Press on toward the mark of the High calling in Christ! No matter what this world does, the victory is already won for the Child of God! No matter where your path in life may lead, Jesus is already there! All that you are; and all that you will be, is in God’s hands. God’s purpose for your life will be fulfilled! That’s God’s covenant promise to you!
We are living in the time of the end of the reign of evil upon this earth. We don’t know how many days are left; maybe even years, but we know the signs of the season and we know that all things are coming down to the end as described in God’s Word.
Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
The nations are in turmoil. Politicians can’t find an answer because every answer they try to find can only be found in God’s Word and not in their self-seeking and men-pleasing solutions.
The earth itself is showing the signs of the birth pangs. Soon there will probably be many more signs in the heavens, in space, and in the earth. The fear that strikes the hearts of souls, lost in darkness, will only increase in the coming days as all of these things come to pass.
But we who trust in God; and we to whom the Holy Spirit has revealed the Word of God and God’s covenant promises, know that there is a great day coming soon; a day of victory; a day of power; a day of great rejoicing; a day of great reunion – that great day when Jesus comes again!
Luke 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Prepare your hearts for great victories! Prepare your hearts for great miracles! Jesus is getting His people ready to go! That great hour of deliverance and of our entrance into that Holy City of God is just ahead! God is lifting a standard! The Holy Ghost is being poured out to all who will hear the call of God! Lift up your heads and shout for joy; for the Coming of the Lord is at hand. Prepare to meet your God!
