Pastor’s Thoughts – 12-28-2025

We are now approaching another new year. The years come and go so quickly. James has told us,” For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:15). Peter says, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of grass. the grass withers, and the flower falls off” (1 Peter 1:24). These words become easier to understand as we age and recognize how quickly time leaves us. Time is not only of the greatest value but is also a peculiar commodity. No worth can be placed on it. This is the reason that our promised eternal life in God is far more valuable than anything in our current limited and fickle world and life. We cannot buy ourselves more time or in any way modify the time we have. We cannot roll time back. All we can do is prayerfully fill what we have in the immediate with the right kind of thinking and actions that only comes as we continue to feed and grow in God’s Word.

Not only do we not control the amount of time we have, but we cannot change it, and neither can we control the occurrences that take place during the time we are allotted by God. Our personal time was created by God, planned by Him, and is controlled exclusively by and for Him. Yet, like the other matters of life under our sovereign Lord, we have a role and responsibility within the framework of the time that God has appointed for us. We are to function trusting God and following His commands. And we have an abundance of instruction within the Word of God of which to follow to be aligned with our sovereign Lord. Yet, even with our God given latitude we have no ultimate control. All belongs to our God. Solomon says, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every matter under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

This additionally means that we do not control the events and circumstances of our life. It is true we can make our lives miserable and destructive by living sinfully and foolishly in our decision making. But, it is also true that God is the One ultimately calling and orchestrating the challenges and events of our life. Some events, seasons, and situations of life are given to us, that no one would choose such as disease and war. However, in Christ we know that all appointed times in our life have purpose. Our role is to be submissive to God, humble ourselves, and at the same time exercise confidence in Him who loves us and promises our best interest.

In Ecclesiastes chapter three, Solomon goes on to give insight and detail as to how God orchestrates our lives. He says, “There is a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to shun embracing; a time to search and a time to give up as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear apart and a time to sew together; a time to be silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace” (Eccl. 3:2-8). This profound reality is more than a mere observation. It illustrates the testing ground of our life on earth. God has brought all manner of variety of circumstances into our lives. All of these challenges have their time and their purpose. The idea of Him appointing carries His right as God and His purposes. Every day, with every change and activity or event there is also granted an ability to choose, and an opportunity for us to display how we respond to each situation all the while knowing the Lord is in absolute control

Our approach to these events is to move in tandem with our God. We are not to quarrel with what He is doing, but to respond in faith and trust His loving plan. What Solomon describes are appointed events that we will experience while living. Each has their place in life in our fallen world. God is orchestrating precisely as He has intended. We can look at how far we have come and know these things are real. We can see them also in the lives of those around us. The varieties God gives are like a pendulum swinging back and forth between contrasts of what we consider favorable and unfavorable matters of life.

As we approach 2026, we thankfully do not know what we will face. Our resolution should be centered on God as we advance forward prayerfully and thankfully. He has promised to those who belong to Him that, “He will never desert us or abandon us” (Heb. 13:5). As we approach the New Year we know our God is with us and He has our good in His infinite plan. Our role is to submit to His Lordship over us and place our situations of life before Him in prayer, trusting Him, and living according to His direction from His Word. We are to live for His glory now, so that we may be prepared to live for His glory eternally.