I hear the same thing from everybody, “I can’t believe another year has come and gone. I can’t believe we are into a new year”! Yes, it’s unbelievable that life is speeding by like the light streaks in outer space.
As I ponder, maybe my perspective is changing. I can’t do everything I want to do. That’s something most of us do come to at some point in our whizzing lives.
I asked myself, “what is success?” I’ve always had a list of goals and things I wanted to accomplish. Some of them I have done. Some of them are still in front of me. Will these things happen? I don’t know. They are still on my list, so maybe someday they will.
However, when my life comes to an end—like 2010 just has—what do I want to see? Will I be happy with a string of achievements?
Or—what will God look for? Will He praise my accomplishments? Or will He ask me what I have done with His Son, Jesus? Will He ask me what I did with my family? Was I a witness to Him in my love for them and my behavior toward them? What kind of friend was I? Available? Too busy making a succession of finished deeds? Or supportive?
What kind of steward was I with the resources He allocated to me? Did I invest ten talents in lives or a portfolio? Five talents? What about one talent?
In the asking of these questions, I realized how much I need Jesus. In Gospel John, chapter 15, Jesus said He is the Vine and we are the branches and we must abide in Him for without Him, we can do nothing.
Phew. It’s true. As I look behind at another completed year of my life, I can see how I am still upheld by His Hand. Jesus’ love holds me and mine for Him is weak. I must follow closely behind Him because without Him, my life is meaningless.
So, Onward to a New Year. May it be one of following Him closely, learning to love as He loves and letting my life count for time and eternity.
“My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me” Psalm 63:8.
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