To some people, 2016 has been a great and successful year. But to others, reverse is the case. In good and bad times alike, let us continue to thank God for his love and grace.
Nevertheless, people cannot continue to live in regret over some of the hurtful experiences they had to encounter throughout the year. Yes! As long as we live on this planet earth we are bound to encounter one problem or the other. Indeed, this life is NOT a Bed of Roses. In John 16:33 we read about Jesus comforting his apostles: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
When we consider the events that took place throughout 2016, it is important that people appreciate the goodness of God in their lives. Many who wished to see this day are now resting among the dead. The dead have no chance to repent but the living have. The gift of life God has given mankind is the greatest of all HIS creation. In fact, there are many reasons for which we must be happy.
Poverty, failure, marital challenges, spiritual attacks, imprisonment, depression, sickness and disease are but temporary afflictions. They do not determine man’s future or measure his level of relationship with God. Indeed, no condition is permanent.
‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a
time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, 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.
What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.’ – Ecclesiastes 3:1-14
No matter how exciting life may seem to be “under the sun,” ultimately, it has no value without
God. The book of Ecclesiastes 1:4-11 quotes the dramatic description of life here on earth by King Solomon saying, ‘A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.
As we prepare to usher in 2017, let us encourage one another to keep God first place in our day-to-day activities as HE is about to do great and mighty things that man has never seen or heard about. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’s name is to be praised.
Each day must be considered as the day that the LORD has made and as such; we should celebrate and be pleased in it.
I extend Calvary greetings to all readers, may you live long and prosper in Jesus’ name. Amen!
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