With the coming of each new year, there is always a sense of both excitement and anticipation as well as hope for better things in the future. It’s simply part of our human nature to look forward to new beginnings, new opportunities, chances to change those things we don’t like about ourselves or our world.
But so many of our hopes for a better future rest in our own efforts—or the efforts of others to bring them about. We make New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, to work out more, to be more productive, to find a new job, etc. Or, we hope for improvements in the political realm, or in our workplace environment, or in our relationships. While there’s nothing at all wrong with hoping for those sorts of improvements with each coming year, there is also a certain futility to such hopes. We lose weight only to put it back on. We buy workout equipment only to find that it doesn’t get used enough to justify its existence in our home.
Perhaps we would be more satisfied and have greater joy if we recalibrated our hopes and aspirations to align with the bigger, eternal perspective of our great God and King, Jesus Christ. He affords us the opportunity for fresh hope each day, each month, each year. His promise to us is that His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). This is an amazing promise to each of us that every single day, we should expect a new batch of mercies from the Lord—just for us!
But even more than the daily, new mercies, is the eventual “do-over” that will happen as the Lord brings about the consummation of history and, in the process, “makes all things new” (Revelation 21:5). Not only will heaven and earth be free from corruption, decay, and evil once it has been made new, we also will be made perfect. We are promised that there will be no more tears, no more sorrow, no more pain—only endless joy in the presence of our Almighty King and Savior, Jesus Christ.
So, when you and I think about our hopes for the new year, let us put our hope in its proper, eternal perspective—anchored on the sure promises of God who gives us hope for tomorrow as well as for eternity.
May the Lord bless each of you with everlasting hope in God!
Tim
Tim Tomlinson
President
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray as we get ready to begin Spring semester. Pray for our students as they return and resume their studies and this would be a hope-filled, deeply satisfying semester as they continue their preparations for a life of effective ministry.
- Please pray also for Dr. Brian Tabb, our Academic Dean, who begins a sabbatical leave this semester. Pray that it would be both refreshing and productive for him and his family. And, also pray for Dr. Chris Bruno, who will be filling in for Dr. Tabb during his time away.
- Please also be in prayer for our upcoming Bethlehem College & Seminary Conference for Pastors + Church Leaders. Pray that the Lord would grant good weather, a great turnout, and that all the attendees would be encouraged and blessed by the messages and the fellowship. Pray for David Clifford and his team as they prepare for this wonderful event.
- And, as always, please continue to pray for our finances. Pray for our ongoing operational needs and that the Lord would allow us to significantly grow our endowment fund to help ensure the long-term financial stability of this amazing school.