Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. . .”(Exodus 12: 1, 2)
New Year day – the first day of the next 365 days, 52 weeks and the following 12 months. It is the great divider between the past and the present as well as the present and the future. Mysterious yet anticipated. Anticipated but feared. Long awaited yet entered with caution. That is the the New Year to us-the Great Unknown!
When God was about to begin the journey to the Promised Land with His people He instituted the Passover and led them out of Egypt into the wilderness. He made one thing very clear, this would be a beginning. That day would mark the “beginning of months; . . . the first month of the year.
This is where we find ourselves today, on the first day of the first month of the year 2018. Beginnings are important because without a beginning there can be no end. Though our Scripture for today is referring to the beginning of a calendar year, looking back in retrospect we know that that day was the beginning of a 40 day journey in the wilderness. At that time this fact was unknown.
I wonder how many things are unknown to us today that will be revealed as we journey on, or when we arrive at the end of the journey. One thing is certain, our choices today, and every day, will determine to a great extent, where the journey that we begin today will take us. Our choices will affect every phase of our life: relationships, finances, health, etc. So today just might be the most important day of the year.
Taking time now, to think about our goals in life, both long and short term, might be a good idea. Where do I want to be financially – 3 months from now? What results am I expecting from my relationships? Am I willing to invest more time to make them more meaningful? Is better health my goal for this new year? What must I do to accomplish this? Am I willing to include healthier sleeping habits, and a better choice of foods into my diet, in order to make this happen?
I have purposely left the most important ingredient for the last. Our Scripture for today begins with the words: Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying . . . If, indeed, we expect to have a happy New Year we cannot forget who has brought us this far, and who speaks success and joy into our goals and plans. “Unless the Lord builds . . . they labor in vain that build . . .” (Psalm 127: 1)!
God has only the best plans for us (Jeremiah 29: 11). So allow Him to lead the way through the Great Unknown and you will not regret it! As we begin the year 2018, the beginning of months, I wish you a Happy New Year! May you become all that God created you to be!
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