By Jack Wyman

At Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina a beautiful thing happened.

On New Year’s Day, twin boys were born. Adonis Weathers entered this world at 1:39 in the morning. Ten minutes later, at 1:49 AM, Adrian Weathers arrived. Each of the boys weighed six pounds, two ounces.

Adonis and Adrian will have no recollection of this special occasion. They have no past to fondly remember or bitterly forget.

They’ve made no mistakes, caused no trouble, had no regrets, celebrated no triumphs, made no resolutions, suffered no sickness, and reached no milestones other than being among the earliest arrivals of this new year. Their birthdays should be easy to remember, though they’ll be forced to share them with the holiday season.

After President Kennedy visited his new-born nephew at the hospital, he was asked by the press his opinion. JFK quipped, “’He looks like a good baby. We’ll know more later.”

A beginning. Always a beginning. We know more later.

We’ve started a new season of our journey together. The past, whatever it held for us, recedes into our memories; the story of our lives. Unchanged and unchangeable. Though hopefully we learn from it, we must not live there. “Never look back,” said Henry David Thoreau, “unless you’re planning to go that way.”

The future beckons. Maybe it threatens. Hopefully it invites. It reminds us that, despite our best efforts, we are not unlimited in shaping it. Most circumstances are beyond our control, though we don’t find that easy to admit.

We usually end up reacting to more than we had expected. It has been wisely observed that only 10% of our attitude toward life is determined by what happens—90% is defined by how we react to what happens.

The apostle John offers a warm wish to his readers:

“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul” (3 John 1:2). May it go well. We all want that and wish it for others. Especially those who mean the most to us. That you and I may, in the end, “live happily ever after.” This is what we hope for, pray for, and labor for. We want to be “as healthy in body” as we “are strong in spirit.”

It's a great New Year’s blessing.

James the apostle, not always as diplomatic as John, gives us a reminder fit for this new year. He warns us against the sin of presumption. Don’t be too sure of your plans. Set goals and work hard, but never leave God out. We don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. God alone knows, so always preface your ambitions with a heavenly concession and a humble submission to divine sovereignty.

 “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). Think of that the next time you’re tempted to run ahead of God. As a dear friend recently quoted to me, “Man plans and God laughs!”

Let’s acknowledge our frailty. After all, “what is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). We must place our confidence in God, not in ourselves. If we resolve to seek his kingdom and his righteousness first, he’s promised to take care of everything else.

If we commit ourselves to integrity, decency, courage, compassion, and truth, God will guide our steps throughout the uncertainties of this coming year. He will light our way by the lamp of his word. He will reward the faithfulness of his saints: “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day” (Proverbs 4:18).

God, who first said, “Let there be light,” dispels the darkness that sometimes clouds our hearts and minds. He sends the “first gleam of dawn” and brightens our way with his wisdom and counsel. “For with you,” declares the psalmist, “is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light” (Psalm 36:9).

C. S. Lewis summarized the entire worldview of the Christian faith in a simple and beautiful metaphor, as probably only he could. It hangs above my desk as a reminder of the Christian’s navigation point:

“I believe in Christianity as I believe the sun has risen—not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

Yes, these are difficult, stressful, and confusing times. Darkness—no matter its strength and pervasiveness—shall never be able to overcome the light of Christ. Let’s always remember that, especially when the dark days come.

We must trust an unknown future to a known God. He is the author and finisher, not only of our faith, but our future; not only of our purpose, but our destiny; not only of our days, but our lives. Pastor and author R.C. Sproul was right: “With God, there are no random atoms.”

Let us enter this new year with hope, joy, faith, and confidence. As Daniel told the king, “There is a God in heaven” (Daniel 2:28). We need never fear, always to trust.

He’s still perfecting us, molding and shaping us, for his purpose and his glory. Let him do that this year. Though trials and tribulations will come in this world, and in our lives, let’s not forget that Jesus has overcome the world.

May we give thanks for past blessings. May we look ahead to God’s future direction; his presence and his comfort. Let us have great expectations. God is able, this year, “to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.

To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

May God bless you, protect you, and keep you in his grace. May he give you deeper love, stronger faith, and brighter hope throughout the year to come.

May this be true for us all.

To order Jack Wyman’s book, “Everything Else: Stories of Life, Faith and Our World”, go to amazon.com, Christian Book Distributors or barnesandnoble.com. It is also available on Kindle and eBooks.

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