BEGINNING WITH GOD
It’s not unusual to find some people start a journey or begin a life’s event or say new dawn without committing their days to God. They fail to realize that God is our creator and made us in such a way that we depend, abide and succeed in Him. Some people live as if they can live independent of God and do anything solely on their own; when indeed He’s the Lord of life. Others believe that man has the power to succeed and could invite God only when He’s needed. They end up treating God as a spare tire as against a steering wheel; as an air hostess and not a flight captain. These people easily forget that God is the maker of the universe we live in and the earth and fullness thereof belongs to Him. Of essence, God created mankind in His image and likeness. Jesus said to His disciple, you can do nothing without Me. I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who remain in Me and I in them shall bear much fruit. If you remain in Me and my word remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, you shall have it. You did not choose me I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. These reveal one great truth, that we are dependable people on God, our Maker [John 15:3-5, 7, 16]. Apostle Paul sum it this way, in Him we live, move and have our being [Acts 17:28].
Why then do you think you can be independent of God who made you and have chosen to bear good fruit that will remain? Why then do you desire to commence a journey of 365 days and think you can do without the Controller of times and seasons of the world; who has the whole world in the palm of His hands. This God has a trade mark on His creation and has legal claim over them. It is against this background that we go to bed at night and hope to wake up next morning; feel comfortable and ascertain to live the days, months and years ahead. Yet some people think it is their right to live and enjoy life without God. In their opinions and little minds, nobody created anything and life has no purpose. The scripture calls them fools [Psalms 14:1]. They are aware that not all who slept last night saw the next morning, talk less of seeing another year. Many who sang welcome to the New Year did not sing the doxology for the end of year or even seeing new dawn. They failed to realize that our days are numbered and every living being is no more than a puff of wind, no more than a shadow [Psalm 39:5-6]. Little wonder the Psalmist says, “Teach us how short and frail; to number our days, so that we may live with wisdom” [Psalm 90:12].The wisdom is to realize that we are design creation with a vacuum only our Creator, God can fill.
We should begin with God because He’s Alpha and Omega. God knows our end from the beginning and sees the wider picture of our lives. He’s I AM that I AM God that was there before the beginning and shall always be even after the end. The God who is present even when He’s not seen physically. He hears even when we think He’s far off, “I cried to the Lord with my voice and He heard me from His holy hill.” [Psalms 3:4; 10:17]. The Lord God upholds and preserves me in His path, so that my footsteps may not slip [Psalms 17:5]. For the Lord knows our frame and remember that we are dust [Psalms 103:14]. He laid the foundation of the earth, so that it should not move forever [Psalms 104:5]. His ways are perfect and shield unto those who trust in Him [Psalms 18:30]; this very God is our dwelling place in all generation and from everlasting to everlasting, He’s our God. [Psalms 90:1-2].
The journey of one year starts with one day. From the first day we should learn to abide in God and He will in turn abide with us; meet our needs and take us to our destinies. He will walk with us precepts by precepts and His word, a lamp unto our feet and light to our pathway. Our supplication shall be presented before Him and He will preserve us from all evil; our coming in and going out and even for lifetime [Psalms 121: 7, 8]. How can you set out for journey of 365 days without the Compass, the Light and the Power for the trip? Some people start this trip ill prepared. They neither know the way nor the means to the way and no fuel to make the trip. Jesus is the only religious leader that made this claim, “I am the way, the truth and life.” No other gods has that claim. That is why it is critical we follow Him.
You may have been following your personal instinct, influence of secret cults and cultural gods as well as depend on scientific discoveries but they are no way; they are only means to seek the way. But Jesus has said it and no one has ever faulted His claim; which has stayed for more than 2000 years. It does not matter which means you follow: air, land, water, etc, He made and has control over them all. Even when the road is long and arduous, He’s the best Navigator. He may not promise calm and smooth trip but a safe landing. Even some non-Church people know this fact and find their way into the Church to begin the trip with God. Whatever had been the disappointment, failures, delays, losses and predicaments of the past, the mere fact that you are alive today and have seen a new dawn means your journey has not ended? God wants us to meet our destinies and complete our trips. In the midst of hard winds and strong storms He commands the calm. Only He has the dynamics for a successful trip; He has brought us in and shall lead us through it. A hymn writer wrote, “Jesus knows all about our struggles and He will guide till the day is done,…..” Let us put our anchor on the Way and He will uphold us even in the worst life’s situation. It is critical therefore to begin the year with Jehovah-Savior; Jesus, the Christ. Have a fruitful new year.
Reach: Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill at: weefreeministries@yahoo.com or P. O. Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272.