“This year of 2009 . . . I make the following resolutions . . .” Sound familiar? People make resolutions at the start of a new year. Our resolutions have to do with our wants and desires; frequently with things about ourselves that we want to change. Jonathan Edwards once started the New Year with twelve resolutions. But before the twelve he wrote a preamble: “Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humble entreat Him, by His grace, to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ's sake. I will remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.” As we begin 2009, the question is not primarily about my will (wants) but must be about what God wills and wants. Most fundamentally we need to reflect and ask: Does God Want Me?
“Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save. Declare what is to be, present it-let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me. Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.”
Who says that God doesn’t want you? Who says that God turns His back on those who have run away and made themselves dirty with all kinds of sin? The world, the devil, and our own guilt and shame perpetually point out our imperfections; many make resolutions. But who has known the mind of God, except that which He has reveled to us? When our conscience convicts us, “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” In His Word God allows everyone to peer into His mind and heart. God wants “all you ends of the earth” to turn to Him in repentance and be saved. This means no matter how wicked or terrible your past, no matter who you have hurt or how badly you hurt them . . . God forgives you.
How do I know this? How can this be real? Listen to what the angel said to Joseph, “You are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
An English carol has this line, “This little babe, so few days old, has come to rifle Satan’s fold.” This baby was born to rescue you; to pay your entire debt of sin. This He did on the cross; His resurrection the victorious sign that all was accomplished in order to save and draw near His beloved.
Jesus said, “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” John 17.24 Does God want you? You bet He does. And not just you by the way . . . GOD WANTS YOU - GOD WANTS EVERYBODY! No other god has such a plan. No idol of wood or stone can relieve guilt, shame, remorse; no amount of money or luxury, no personal achievement in health or business can cover up sin. There is only one God; He is a righteous (faithful) God and a Savior!
Praise God for a new year, 2009. Take time to reflect and maybe make a resolution. Then under God’s good gospel-grace, maybe take Jonathan Edwards advice to read your resolutions once a week. Even more however, take these words of encouragement from God, “Gather together and come . . . assemble.” Gather together in church. Assemble and fellowship with like minded Christians each and every week. Hear the gracious, loving words of your God and rejoice that God wants you . . . and everybody else too!
