INTRODUCTION
Brethren, another year is upon us! Many of you are celebrating or preparing to celebrate the New Year! New year marks the beginning of months which God ordained to be the first month of the year to you. (Leviticus 23:24; Exodus 12:2). With the consciousness of a new year, and the hope that it instils, God offers mankind the opportunity to reflect on the worldly life of the old year, and to renew our hearts and return anew.
1. SINS OF THE OLD YEARS
We may have fallen away from father God, by several iniquities and transgressions in the old year(s) (Psalm 65:3; Hosea 14:1). The New Year is a season that God demonstrates his love for mankind. He offers the ‘gift of repentance’– a call for us to renew our hearts and return to him, as he holds open a new door of hope, of a new year. (Romans 2:4).
You may think: ‘How can I return to God when I never left him?’ Brethren, we all do sin; and when we do, we turn away from God. “There is none righteous, no, not one”! (Proverbs 20:9; Romans 3:10, 23; 1 Kings 8:46). Our responsibility for sin can be individual or collective as a nation. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us”. (1 John 1:8; Job 15:14; Jeremiah 2:35).
2. FALLEN TO SIN
Often, we “walk according to the course of this world”. (Ephesians 2:1-2). We use worldly wisdom to distort the truth of God’s word to fit our worldly desires and lifestyles. When we fulfil worldly lusts, we are under the power of Satan, the “father of lies”; and against, God’s word of truth. (James 3:15; Romans 1:21; John 8:44).
- WORLDLY CONDUCT
Let us consider some common worldly dispositions by which one may easily fall to Satan and depart from God: idolatry; lies; deceit; adultery; hypocrisy; distortion; double standard; false witness; enticing; manipulation; dishonesty; craftiness; strife; anger; hatred; jealousy; envy; covetousness; emulations; “presumptuous sins”; “lying vanities”; perversions; lustful and evil imaginations. (2 Corinthians 4:2; Galatians 5:19-21; Romans 2:1-3; Psalm19:12; 58:1-2; Job 33:27).
When one sins, he is in “spiritual captivity”, delivered to the enemy; He is “snared in holes”, “hid in prison houses” and is “robbed and spoiled”. (1 Kings 8:46; Isaiah 42:22-24). Although one might find the motive for sinning well-intended, it does not change the sin into righteousness. Some even rely on the “slanderous” saying: “do evil that good may come”; or the saying: ‘we only bend the law, not break it’’. (Romans 3:8).
- TRIALS AND CHASTENING FALLS
Apart from direct conduct, people may depart from God due to trials and chastening falls. One may have encountered difficult situations, and trials that worked to close one’s heart to God. Also, one’s chastening may have been hard to endure and caused you to turn to other idols.
Moreover, the “thorns” of Pride’ in one’s heart, may cause them to focus on the cares, riches and pleasures of this life and relegated the fear of God, and the desire to walk righteously. (Luke 8:14).
It may also be that the word of God is not rooted enough in one’s heart so that one believes in God for a while, but in time of temptation they fall away (Luke 8:13). Bear in mind that by temptations “…we know, if we follow on to know the LORD…” or serve idols. (Hosea 6:2-3; Isaiah 42:17).
Further, one’s fall away could be a direct result of the devil, snatching God’s word from one’s heart, lest they should believe and be saved (Luke 8:12).
Brethren no matter the circumstances for our departing from God or unbelief in Him, I encourage you to come and let us return or turn unto the LORD: For he is able to heal us, bind us up, revive us and raise us up to live in his sight. (Hosea 6:1).
- RETURNING IN REPENTANCE
We may return to God through repentance by conviction from the heart, and truly sorry for our sins. (Romans 2:4). The prophets require of one seeking to return to God to: “put away “abominations”; remove “detestable idols”; “Circumcise [oneself] to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of [ones] heart…”. One should also to wash his heart from “wickedness” and not waiver. (Hosea 14:1; Jeremiah 4:4 &14; Joshua 24:14).
- REPENTANCE BY THE FAITH OF CHRIST
Brethren, consider that God has offered the sacrifice for sin and reconciliation through his son, Jesus Christ. He forgives sins, redeems and sanctifies men through the faith of his blood, reconciling man with God. (Romans 3:25; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Isaiah 30:18; Romans 5:12-21).
Therefore, believers who are sanctified by His Spirit already have “the foreskins of their hearts” removed by faith. These may no longer be held captive by sin: The Holy Spirit indwells believers and inspires sin consciousness in them, and guides them toward repentance by his conviction. (Romans 8:11; John 16:8). “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36; Isaiah 44:22).
People of God, we demonstrate repentance by confessing our sins, renouncing them and endeavour to forsake the wrongful conduct; and where necessary, make amends.
- CONFESSION
Brethren, “If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. (1 John 1:9; Exodus 34:7). Therefore, “Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously…”. (Hosea 14: 2-3). God will not despise a “broken spirit” and “a broken and contrite heart” in repentance “… And whoso confesseth and forsaketh [ his sins] shall have mercy”. (Psalm 51:17; Proverbs 28:13; Job 33:27-28).
- FORSAKING SINFULNESS
Isaiah the prophet guides us in returning, saying: Seek ye the LORD …let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him…”. When one comes to their senses of the lies of the devil, they should repent, and return with all their heart and soul and pray to God. (Isaiah 55:6-7; 1 Kings 8:47).
The realisation of wrong doing, the courage to confront it, and the conscious decision to forsake it, reaffirms one’s identity as a child of God and thus to return anew. For example, Moses was raised with the lie of being the son of Pharaoh’s daughter in Egypt; but he renounced that identity, choosing to suffer affliction with God’s people. (Hebrew11:24-26). Also, the prodigal son realised his sin, in taking share of his “goods” for a “riotous living”, repented and returned home to his father. (Luke 11:15-32).
The point here is that, any who reflects on their identity as a child of God, can hardly live comfortably in the devil’s identity, to sin continuously.
- A NATIONS’ TRANSGRESSIONS
My people of God, we may also depart from God for the iniquity and transgressions of our nation, especially rebellion. Sin can cause hardship and desolation in a country.
A nation may be in rebellion when its people transgress [God’s] law even by departing, that they might not obey [his] voice…”, including through God’s prophets. Also, even when that nation experiences evil upon its people, yet it will not make prayers before the LORD, that they might turn from their iniquities, and understand His truth. (Daniel 9:9-13).
Brethren, although a nation may rebel against God, to Him belong mercies and forgiveness. It is therefore necessary, as taught by the prophet Daniel, that we “set [our] face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting… unto the LORD [our] God, and [make] confession” on behalf of our nations and cities. (Daniel 9:3-4).
- REWARD FOR RETURNING
Brethren, whenever we return to God by conviction and repentance, there is a reward. For instance, if we return unto the LORD with all our hearts, seek him and turn from wicked ways, serve him only and pray unto him, he will hear and forgive our sins. And when we decree a thing, it shall be established unto us. (Job 22:25-28; 2 Chronicles 7:14).
Instead of anger, God will be to the returnees as “the dew” and they shall enjoy spiritual and material growth. Also, He shall cause those who forsook them to return (Hosea 14:4-7). Further, those who in returning, endeavour to keep the “precious” and forsake the “vile”, could become a mouthpiece for God. (Jeremiah 15:19; Exodus 4:12).
Moreover, God will make his returnees like “a fenced brasen wall” to their enemies, so that, even if they fight against them, they shall not prevail against them. He shall deliver and redeem his people out of the hand of “the wicked” and “the terrible”. (Jeremiah 15:20; 1 Samuel 7:3). And for a returning Nation, God shall cause other nations to bless them and in her shall they glory. (Jeremiah 4:2-4).
Therefore, people of God, let us, aspire to the New Year with solemn reflection and repentance. Let us make a firm commitment to trust in father God’s Spirit to guide us this year, in grace and mercies through Christ Jesus.
PRAYER
Almighty Father, I thank you for your Word.
We praise you for another year, for the gift of repentance and the saving grace in Christ Jesus.
Gracious Father, “Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously, so will we render the calves of our lips”. We earnestly repent and confess that idols and worldly powers shall not save us; we will not ride upon pride: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ‘Ye are our gods’.
Merciful Father, create in us a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within us.
Help us Lord to forgive those who wronged us in the old year(s).
Cause thy face to shine upon us and bless us.
Dear LORD, we also repent on behalf of our nation: we have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, by departing from thy precepts and thy judgments.
Lord, have mercy upon our nation and cause the reproach of our adversaries to cease.
O Lord, forgive; for thine own sake, for our nation and its people are called by thy name. Bless our land.
I make this prayer IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME. (Adapted from: Hosea 14; Psalm 51 & Daniel 9)
“AND UNTO YOU, YOUR LOVED ONES AND FAMILY, A BLESSED ‘RETURN ANEW’ AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Lots of Love, P. Schwartz (SOG) 1 January 2024.
