New Year, New Beginnings
Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us, 'For everything there is a season.' Everything has its appointed and appropriate time. As the seasons change, we’re reminded that time does not stop. It moves inevitably forward; a testimony to God’s sovereign and eternal purpose. Days, months, years. The movement of the universe, measured by clocks and calendars, connected by alarms and reminders, by dates and deadlines. We cannot stop time nor change it, but we can recognize it. As Christians, we have a unique perspective on time. God created time for us, so we should take time for God. But the time we take is not created equal. Ephesians 5:16 charges us to redeem time. The Greek word for 'time' in this passage is not chronos (Χρόνος), linear, quantitative time, but kairos (Καιρός), the ideal moment, the opportune time. To seize such moments, we must recognize them, because for every moment there is a season.
In creating time, God has not only given us chronos (Χρόνος) but kairos (Καιρός). Every new day, a new beginning, a new opportunity. As the sun rises, we’re reminded that God’s mercies and compassion are new every morning. (Lam. 3:22-23) Which, in turn, gives rise to our renewed love for Christ Jesus, inspiring fresh consecration; enabling us to walk with God on a path that 'shines brighter and brighter until the full day.' (Prov. 4:18) If we stumble, if we fall, if we fail, a new beginning is never more than a day away.
When God delivered His people, Israel, out of Egypt with a mighty hand, He gave them a new beginning, a new month. He changed their calendar as a reminder of His faithfulness and as a memorial of His work. 'This month will be the beginning of months for you; it shall be the first of the months of the year to you.' (Exo. 12:2; 34:18) God uses time to give us time; kairos from chronos, new beginnings, new opportunities. Did you have twelve new beginnings last year? Did you redeem them?
'Now therefore thus says Jehovah of hosts, consider your ways.' (Hag. 1:5) A new year allows us to have a greater beginning. A God ordained moment for us, not to tally accomplishments or dwell on failures, but to consider our ways. How was your walk with Christ over the course of the last 365 days? Only God knows the answer, but we should, nevertheless, consider. At the dawn of a new year, we should take the opportunity to come before the Lord and consider our walk with Him. In such a time, the goal is neither introspection nor renewed resolution. Our spiritual new year is not for making promises to God but for taking account of all of His promises to us: 'for as many promises of God as there are, in Him is the Yes; therefore also through Him is the Amen to God, for glory through us to God.' (2 Cor. 1:20) No, it is not what we can do for God, but what He has done and will do for us, in us, and with us. We are 'confident of this very thing, that He who has begun in you a good work will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus,' (Phil. 1:6).
Therefore, we redeem the opportunity of a new year simply by coming to Him, beholding Him, and inquiring of Him. (Psa. 27:4) When we come, behold, and inquire of the Lord, we gain His presence, His appearing, and His speaking. Nothing is more valuable than this, nothing more deserving of our time. And there can be no greater reward for redeeming the opportunity of a new beginning.
