You made it...now what?

As I write this it is 10pm, New Year's eve... 

​Well here it is, and it is all about to end, another year.

All the excitement of the last two months are coming to and end. 
All the plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas are rolled back in our lives and are now memories.  In two hours it will be a new year, and with that come dreams and hopes of a brighter and more joyful life for many.  Dreams, plans and hopes are soaring. 

But as we think about the past two months, what has taken place? 
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The travel arrangements, the packing, the time table...the driving and waiting in long traffic lines or battling the foot traffic at the airport is all over.  Dragging baggage and longing to quickly get to where we are going drains us. People passing each other without giving each other a thought. Each with their own destination in mind and focused on their own set of plans. 

There are many ways for all of these masses of people to get to their destinations, and each has chosen their own way, longing for the relief and joy that will fill them as they arrive at the place where a friend or loved one awaits them. 

Yes there are many ways to travel to a desired destination in this world. 
But there is only "one" way to arrive at the eternal destination - heaven. 

There is no other route to take, one way. 
There is no baggage to bring, come as you came into the world, with nothing. 
There is no ticket to purchase.  
Jesus already purchased your ticket to heaven when he was nailed to the cross. 

As I passed unknown faces in my travels, I wondered...
​as happy as these people will be to arrive at their destination for the holiday season, are they prepared for the destination that they will face at their final breath one day? 

​No one desires to think about this, but it is a very important one. 

People prepare for weeks ahead of time for November, December and New Years. 

How many have prepared for their eternal life, by asking Christ for cleansing of sin and giving their life to Him?  So many today deny there even is a God. Sadly they are playing with fire, hellish fire. 

When I speak with people who confront my faith in Christ and think I am naive, my heart aches. Not for me, but for them.  For they are someone's son, daughter, father, mother, sister, brother... and I know that I desire to see my entire family in heaven one day. 

So this year, ask God to use you to impact the life of someone.  Talk to them of Christ. 

People are so busy with life, that they give little consideration for their eternal life. 
They "will" spend it one of two places.  Heaven or hell. 

As you wish people Happy New Year, say a silent prayer for them. If you know they need to ask Christ into their heart and life, make it a priority this year to plant seeds of faith in their life.  Jesus commanded us to be His witnesses. 

Yes, we hope our lives will be full of blessings in the New Year as we trust God and share His love with those around us.  A new year also brings many questions: 

Will I have good health?  Will a struggling marriage last?
Will I be able to hang on to my job? Will I get into the right school?
Will I live to see the end of this year? Will my children be safe?
Will there be some natural disaster?  Will I lose a loved one this year?

All these concerns can be made easier to live with when we have settled our "eternal" destination plans. When we know Jesus as our Savior, He assures us that He will never leave us or forsake us, no matter what we are going through.  What happens in this coming year is not left to chance, but left in the hands of an Almighty God and He has promised to stick close! 

No matter what the new year brings, our plans are made, we are confident we will make it to our heavenly destination, we can see peace up ahead and lean on Jesus... for He said: 

 "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20).

For Christians, the best New Year's resolution we can make is to remain faithful, even when life is hard, as God shapes us to fulfill our respective unique roles in His plan.

No real worries.  We know our final destination. 
We know Who is in control. 


​That's the reason we can wish each other a "Happy New Year!"
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Father in heaven, thank You for the gift of a new year and for Your promise to stay with me.
I ask for Your guidance and wisdom each day.  Guide me, fill me with Your peace and inner strength to face what lies ahead in this world.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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