2017 Is Marching On

Two old friends hadn’t seen each other in many years. Now they had a long talk trying to fill in the gap of those years by telling each other about their lives. Finally one invited the other to visit him in his new apartment. “I have a wife and three kids and I’d love to have you visit us.” “Great” said the other. “Where do you live?” “Here’s the address. And there’s plenty of parking behind the apartment. Park and come around to the front door, kick it open with your foot, go to the elevator and press the button with your left elbow, then enter! When you reach the sixth floor, go down the hall until you see my name on the door. Then press the doorbell with your right elbow and I’ll let you in.” Looking a little confused the potential visitor said, “Good. But tell me...what is all this business of kicking the front door open, then pressing elevator buttons with my right, then my left elbow?” His host replied, “Surely, you’re not coming empty-handed.”

Most of you know I hate politics and my thoughts toward most politicians are generally not very favorable. As of January 20^th the United States of America has a new President, Commander and Chief. Through the electoral processes afforded by the constitution of this country he has been invited to our nation’s capital to represent and lead the country as our highest official in government. Some people see him coming as one kicking in the front door and elbowing his way into power, but it could just be he isn’t coming empty handed. I’m impressed with his continued use of the words “we”, “our”, “together” and “as one” during his inaugural address as they echo from his campaign speeches urging unity in citizens and government alike. For the life of me I cannot understand why this is such a problem for some people. It is what it is. Expect the worst if you must, but at least pray for the best and lean on the One for whom this country is anchored. If we lose our faith in Him, and one another, we are doomed as a country revered by the world.

[Ecclesiastes 1:3-11] Time is tick, tick, ticking onward without asking for either our consent or approval. 2016 isn’t even cold yet and 2017 is already relentlessly marching forward. Nothing you and I can do will ever get that time back. With each passing day we creep closer towards time's end. But, as always, with Jesus there is good news. • 2017 will bring with it days of defeat and success. • 2017 will bring with it both sadness and great joy. • 2017 will bring days of suffering balanced with days of healing. • 2017 will bring with it days of loss and others of enrichment. • For some 2017 will bring with it a day of finality. But there will not be a single day in 2017 that you will have to encounter alone! We have One who can lift us up from defeat, comfort us in sadness and sustain us through suffering. There is One who can truly place momentary loss into eternal perspective. And not to be forgotten, we have each other, charged with the duty of sharing in life's highs and lows (Romans 12:9-21) and with bearing “one another’s burdens" (Galatians 6:2). While we are powerless to keep time from sifting through our lives like sand through our fingers, we can do something about how we spend it. While much time will fall wasted at the feet of humanity, as a follower of Christ you can use your time to God's glory and time will ultimately deposit you in His timeless glory. It may seem to you that God and religion are coming to you as someone or something trying to kick in your door and elbow its way into your life uninvited, but if you look closely, you’ll see God hasn’t come empty handed. He has a gift for you (John 3:16-21).