This time of year always reminds of
the snow-covered fields on our Wisconsin farm. There they were, fresh snow,
unmarked by footsteps, or sleds or wagon wheels. Freshly falling snow gives the
world a new, clean outlook. Fence posts
sport little white caps, and all the unsightly stuff always around takes on
sort of beauty with its pristine coat. It reminds somehow of tasks yet to be
done, of things set before us to do, of something coming.
The daily paper, magazines, news channels,
offer great plans for the year.
They lay before
us wonderful, and successful, enter[rises to be undertaken, or good ways to
increase and enhance our life styles. But further and deeper looks at these
offerings remind us it’s all been done, and always ends in failure. Leaving us
frustrated and unhappy once again.
I
offer something that will not disappoint, for it goes to the root of life’s
problem. The Bible teaches us that man has failed. It says, “All have sinned
and come short of the glory of God.” When man was created, he was holy. Then he
shattered this by his listening to the tempter, Satan, who helped Adam into sin
by offering his “Yea, hath God said?”
St.
Paul, in his letter to young Timothy, writes, “I am an apostle and a teacher of
the Gentiles. For this reason I suffer these things (he is writing from
prison), nevertheless I am not ashamed; for I
am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” 2 Timothy 1, 11.12
There
is the truth of it. He, being one whose faith is in Jesus Christ, knows where
he is going and what the outcome will be for him. For God has a plan for this
world, a plan set already before the word began. Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
carried out this plan to save this sinful Adam and every person on this earth. That is why the Apostle can say, “I am not ashamed”, for He knows where he is
going, what the end will be.
For
St. Paul, as for any Christian, the snow-white field, lying fresh, simply becomes
a field he travels to his end with God in heaven.
God
bless the walking through 2014.
GPD 1/7/14
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