Gtcotr/ss010409
Key Scriptures: Philippians 3
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Here we are at the first of the year again, faced with the opportunity to make some New Year’s resolutions … Maybe do it a little different this coming year than we did in the past.
There is a lot to be said about new beginnings, fresh starts, first impressions, last impressions and second chances. The Bible is a book about God giving people opportunities to leave their past behind and begin again.
A decision to begin something new, make a good first impression or to change life in some way is not the most difficult part of the equation, especially if one really needs a new day. However, in order to be successful in that new day, a person needs to possess a:
* Conviction - of what was wrong with the old day
* Passion - for what is right both now and for the future
* Discipline - to live a changed life
Of course, our pattern example of new beginnings is God. Let’s turn to Genesis 9. While you turn there let me catch us up in the story.
One day …
Genesis 6
5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 ¶ And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
7 So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them."
8 ¶ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
God instructed Noah to build an ark, a boat through which He saved Noah and his family along with the animals which He caused to gather into that ark. After the flood waters receded, God opened the ark and gave Noah and his family a commandment to begin again. We read this commandment in Genesis 9.
Genesis 9:1 ¶ And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
Even though Noah was ‘perfect’ in all his generations, as one translation puts it …
Genesis 6:9 This is the history of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless man living on earth at the time. He consistently followed God’s will and enjoyed a close relationship with him.
… nonetheless you and I both know that since Noah and his family exited the ark and set up a new world until now, things have gotten a bit off track. The world, once again, is in need of a new day … and I hear that one is coming real soon! But … back to our story …
Do you remember what God commanded Noah in Genesis 9:1:
“Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.”
Perhaps you recall seeing that same commandment spoken elsewhere in the Bible? Look with me in Genesis the first chapter.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Do you think this was a first beginning or a new beginning? Why do I ask? Because, in:
Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth …
God gave the same commandment to Noah as He had given to Adam and Eve, ‘replenish’. Reckon why? Was the earth inhabited by others before Adam and Eve? I don’t know and neither do you, but allow me to speculate from the scriptures we do know.
Genesis 1
1 ¶ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3 ¶ And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
We don’t know what happened between verse one and verse two, but something must have gone wrong in order for the earth to end up in such chaos and disuse.
Without knowing what happened we do know what God did to fix the problem and get a new beginning for the earth and a new day for Him and His new creations.
1. God recognized that the present condition of earth was unacceptable for the new day He desired.
2. He thought about it and dreamed about it and came up with a plan for a fresh start.
3. God took the first step and then stuck with the process, taking step after step, until it was just like He wanted it to be.
4. Then God told man to replenish the earth and look after it for Him. This was a new day!
Perhaps, much like God, you have awakened to the realization that the present condition of some area(s) of your life are unacceptable for the new day you desire. If so, why not follow God’s pattern.
Without regard as to whether this is your first time for a fresh start or your thirty-first time … the steps are the same.
You will need to possess conviction, passion and discipline to make it work … but you can have a new day, a fresh start … you can change what needs changing if you will only begin by getting God’s dream for your future and then take the steps necessary to succeed
Here is what you do:
1. Ask God to show you what needs changing
2. Prayerfully decide your first step
3. Place your trust in God and take that step
There is no magic that will fix a problem and no way to make it better without God’s intervention. Believe me, no matter how bad it is right now … you can make it worse! However, the bible says:
Psalms 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD …
This may be the opportunity you have been waiting for. Why not make the most of it! Be that good man and let God order your steps.
Surely you can think of one thing that needs changing in your life or world. Truly give it to God and do what He leads you to do and see what happens … what have you got to lose?
I pray you have a very Happy New Year!
New Beginnings Really Do Work!
Two Amazing Stories
(from an unknown author)
The First Story: Al Capone thought he owned Chicago. He was notorious for bootlegged booze, prostitution, murder and a lawyer nicknamed Easy Eddie. Eddie kept Big Al out of jail.To show his appreciation, Al Capone provided Eddie's family with a fenced-in mansion and estate so large that it filled a city block, and Easy Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob. However, he had a son he loved very much and, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie wanted to be a good example for his son. So Eddie testified against the mob, knowing it would cost him dearly. Within a year his life ended in a blaze of gunfire. Eddie had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay. Before the police moved his body they removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine.The read, "The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell when the hands will stop. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, and toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still."
The Second Story: During World War II Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. Once in the air Butch O'Hare discovered that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier, so he dropped out of formation and headed back. Flying alone he noticed a squadron of Japanese aircraft speeding toward the American fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, Butch O'Hare dove into that formation of Japanese planes with wing-mounted 50-caliber machine guns blazing. In and out of that surprised formation he flew, hitting as many planes as he could until his ammunition was gone. Undaunted by his silent guns he dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of rendering a plane unfit to fly. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron turned in another direction as Butch and his tattered plane limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival, he reported the events surrounding his return and film from a camera mounted on his plane told the story. He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft. This air battle took place on February 20, 1942, and for that Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. However, his home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade. The O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.The next time you visit O'Hare International please look for the memorial displaying Butch O'Hare's statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.Why are these two stories amazing? Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddie's son.
