Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Ending Precedes the Beginning

Ah, what is there to talk about this morning but the cold? This is one of those mornings when I dressed up like an arctic explorer just to walk about 12 steps out the back door to feed the cat. I thanked the heater in the garage for doing a good job. I praised God for the furnace and waited for it to warm the house a bit before getting up. It's cold outside! Yet, we are also at the ending of a year. Each year we celebrate the passing of one year and the arrival of the new. I cannot help but think that each of these is much like what happened at the death and resurrection of our Lord.

What seemed to the apostles to be the end, was the beginning of something much better. Jesus told them this, but they could not believe it until the Lord met them again on the other side. The end that seemed so dark, was actually the gateway to a bright and beautiful beginning. Each year, we celebrate the passing darkness of one year and look forward to the start of the new year. Resolutions are made and the journey begins again. Easter celebrations are much the same, and indeed we may see another of those soon. If we wish, we can even begin the countdown to Christmas again. The possibilities of a new year shine as the old one is laid to rest.

One day, Jesus will help us to lay aside this old life, and what a beginning will come from that laying down! In much of the Revelation, a terrible ending is revealed to those who will believe. Then, at the very end of the Bible, we can read of the beginning that follows, and what a great promise for eternity it is!

Happy New Year!
Bucky

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