Good News for the New Year

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”  John 3:16-17

John chapter three, verse sixteen is a well-known scripture and a simple and valuable truth. Many people are making New Year’s resolutions to be healthier or to do something of consequence and value in the upcoming year.  They want to find something to “hold on to”, something that makes a positive change in their lives.  As we start a New Year, the hope of the Good News of salvation through Christ is for all who believe in him. This is something of value to “hold on to” that will make a difference in our lives.

 Every year people make resolutions to change for the better. What could be more important than focusing on what is of eternal value and what will truly last beyond this coming year?  2018 will have its enjoyable moments as well as its trials and struggles, just as there were in 2017.

We can either decide to “seize the day” and just live for the moment, hoping for things to change for the best, or we can live each moment for eternity, which will make a change for our best.   In I Corinthians 15 the apostle Paul reminds the Corinthians of what is really important and what they need to “hold onto”, in the midst of their lives and every day struggles.

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.”  I Cor. 15: 1-2

These people in Corinth had received, believed and were saved, by the Good News of Christ death and resurrection for their sins.  They needed to “hold onto” that truth and keep moving forward in their faith in Christ, so that it could continue to make a change in their lives.

The Good News is only useful for those who receive it, believe it and hold onto it.  If you don’t make it a part of your life, how can it change you?  It can’t, but to all who believe in Christ’s redeeming power through his death and resurrection, it is a power for salvation that lasts beyond 2018 into eternity.

If you have a relationship with Jesus, keep “holding on to him” because he is faithful to “hold onto you” and you have hope for this year and beyond.  If you don’t have the eternal hope of Christ in your heart, then I hope and pray that you will take a step of faith and believe the Good News that Jesus died for your sins, he was buried, he rose again on the third day and he is still alive and saving people today!

(Father God in heaven, thank you for the eternal hope that we have in Christ Jesus our Lord! Lord Jesus, give us the grace to hold fast onto you and the hope we have in you. May we share the hope of  the Good News with others this year, so they too can receive a hope that changes them internally for eternity.  Amen)