At this threshold of another year, 2017, reason tells us that we have one less year to prove our stewardship faithful before the coming of the Lord. Time moves on for all. While we can look back and also look forward, in reality, there is only one moment in which to act. That is the moment we have right now. Yesterday is forever past, and tomorrow has not yet come. From the past we are privileged to learn—if we will—but we cannot change it. And as for tomorrow, we need to learn to leave the future with God. The freedoms we have long enjoyed are being eroded. Soon we will have to do “the work which” we have “failed to do in a time of peace and prosperity. . . under most discouraging, forbidding, circumstances.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 463
The day is almost gone; the night is coming on. We see God’s judgments on both land and sea. We are not granted a second probation. This is not a time for making wrong moves. We thank God that everyone still has a chance to make a covenant with Him. A year that is past will not return. How many were marked by the loss of a loved one, family breakdown because of sin and failure to confess, or financial loss? But we have life. There is still opportunity to seek God while He can be found. Seek Him today, my dear brother and sister. Jesus intercedes for you. He is standing at your heart’s door. Open it, for He grants full salvation. Trust Him as your Saviour. “Before the flood God sent Noah to warn the world, that the people might be led to repentance, and thus escape the threatened destruction.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 102
In this short article, let us think on the past year 2016 and improve our lives by sanctification in 2017 since it is a privilege. . . .
Thousands of people lose their lives every year on our planet. How many died in this past year? Why are you still alive? God has yet a plan for your life.
As we start another year, it is time to remember the goodness of the Lord during the previous year. Another year of mercy is about to end. It is our duty to ask ourselves the following questions: During the past year, did I come closer to my Lord Jesus or have I gone farther away from Him? Am I a keen student of prophecy, to discern its fulfillment? Do I realize that what is happening in the churches is a token of the soon coming of Jesus?
We are about to enter the year 2017, and it is very important that we decide to be fully on God’s side.
God is waiting and is willing to do much for His people. Christ still prays to His Father that His brethren may be one (John 17:20–23). Shall we not, then, pray as He prayed and live as He lived? Through His free gift of grace, we have this life, so why not rejoice and live to share the good news. After all, it is “by the obedience of one” that many shall “be made righteous.” Romans 5:19
As we start another year, it is time to remember the goodness of the Lord during the previous year.
Goodbye 2016, Welcome 2017
Dear reader, take time to reflect on a personal, family, and community level about the year that is ending—2016. Let us establish new spiritual goals and lift up our hearts to the Lord in prayer. Let us humiliate our souls before Jesus for vows unfulfilled, goals not reached, defects still not overcome, and our overall neglects.
Dear brethren and reader, “Can you look back upon your course through the past year with sweet satisfaction? Have you made progress in the way to heaven?—Have you been overcoming your pride of heart, your pride of dress, and are you becoming more humble, meek, like Jesus, the lovely Pattern?” –The Youth’s Instructor, January 1, 1856
“The old year, with its burden of record, is fast passing away. The new year [2017], with all its possibilities, will soon be ushered in. What advancement have we made in the knowledge of Christ during the past year? Are we prepared to show, more decidedly than ever before, that we are on the Lord’s side? At this time, when the nations of the world are wavering between infidelity and idolatry, are we prepared to stand as faithful ambassadors for Christ? Shall we not, at the beginning of this new year, give ourselves and all we have to God? Shall we not listen to His voice, which calls us to a renewed contest, to a more thorough consecration of ourselves and our intrusted capabilities to His service?” –The Signs of the Times, January 2, 1901
“Another year has nearly passed into eternity, with its burden of record. Let us look over the past year, and if we have not done our full duty willingly, heartily unto the Lord, let us come up to the new year making a faithful record to our God.” –Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 308
Let us consider with much care what Sister White wrote to her son—a birthday letter, as he was about to enter a new year in his life. Consider it as your own letter sent to you at this time:
“Another year of your life closes today. How can you look back upon it? Have you made advancement in the divine life? Have you increased in spirituality? Have you crucified self, with the affections and lusts? Have you an increased interest in the study of God’s word? Have you gained decided victories over your own failings and waywardness? Oh, what has been the record of your life for the year which has now passed into eternity, never to be recalled? . . . A new year of your life now commences. A new page is turned in the book of the recording angel. What will be the record upon its pages? Shall it be blotted with neglect of God, with unfulfilled duties? God forbid. Let a record be stamped there which you will not be ashamed to have revealed to the gaze of men and angels.
“As you enter upon a new year, let it be with an earnest resolve to have your course onward and upward. Let your life be more elevated and exalted than it has hitherto been. Make it your aim not to seek your own interest and pleasure, but to advance the cause of your Redeemer. Remain not in a position where you ever need help yourself, and where others have to guard you to keep you in the narrow way. . . . Aim to honor God in everything, always and everywhere. Carry your religion into everything. Be thorough in whatever you undertake.
[In this year 2017], “Let every purpose you form, every work in which you engage, and every pleasure you enjoy, be to the glory of God. Let this be the language of your heart: I am thine, O God, to live for Thee, to work for Thee, and to suffer for Thee.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 261–262, 268
Therefore, after heeding the above statement, remember that the page of 2016 is being turned.
Think on what is recorded in the heavenly books under your name! Have you honoured the Lord? Many opportunities were given you. Did you make a wise use of them, for yourself, your family, or your church? Have you overcome your pride? Have you walked in integrity and fear (Job 1:1)?
If you think Christ is delaying His return, then do your best to hasten it (Matthew 24:14).
Have you erred far from the Lord who redeemed you? It is time to reconcile and rededicate yourself to God. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” James 4:7–8. “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well.” Isaiah 1:16–17
Is your heart tired and hopeless? “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” Psalms 37:5
If you are fearful, remember the promise, “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:5–8
If it has been a long time and you have not made the decision to totally separate from the world and its influences, take heed of these verses: 1 Kings 18:21; Joshua 24:14–15
Why are you hopeless about your future projects and plans? “The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Proverbs 16:1–3
Regarding the hard situation you my have faced in 2016, be courageous to enter 2017 with great hope and perseverance. 1 Peter 2:19; 4:12–13; 5:9; Revelation 21:4
Were there any differences, divisions in the family or among brethren? Remember this scripture: Matthew 5:9; James 5 :16; Ephesians 4:32; Galatians 6:2
If you have lost time in criticizing others, evil surmising, judging motives and fault finding, remember, this is the work of the accuser:
“The spirit of gossip and talebearing is one of Satan’s special agencies to sow discord and strife, to separate friends, and to undermine the faith of many in the truthfulness of our positions.” Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 194. Some pride themselves. . . . They criticize, they wound, they say disagreeable things. Will the character they are cultivating recommend them to Jesus? Will it fit them for the society of heaven? We do well to examine ourselves to see what manner of spirit we are cherishing. Let us learn to speak gently, quietly, even under circumstances the most trying.”—The Voice in Speech and Song, p. 141
Pressing Toward Perfection
May you testify as the apostle Paul said: “I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13–14
“We are now entering upon a new year, and may it prove a beginning of years to us. If in the old year we have made failures, let us commence the new by rectifying these errors as far as we can. If the old year has borne into eternity a spotted record of opportunities neglected and privileges slighted, let us see that that of the new year is free from these blemishes. Its days are all before us; let us begin now to make the history of each as it passes, such as we shall not tremble to meet in the judgment. . . . Let us develop all our powers, and make of ourselves all that God designed that we should.” –Australian Union Conference Record, January 5, 1914
“Happy New Year. Another year, with its burden of record, has passed into eternity. We know not what that record is, and cannot know till the judgment. But a new year has commenced, and I feel like dedicating myself anew to God, soul, body, heart, and strength. A new page is turned. What shall be the record of this new year? What shall be its revelations in the history of the world? What shall be its revelation in our individual history?” –Manuscript Releases, vol. 12, p. 44
“Take time to be Holy”
“Professed Christians, worldly Christians, are unacquainted with heavenly things. They will never be brought to the gates of the New Jerusalem to engage in exercises which have not hitherto specially interested them. . . . Good purposes are right, but will prove of no avail unless resolutely carried out. Many will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians. . . . The heavenly character must be acquired on earth, or it can never be acquired at all. Then begin at once. Flatter not yourself that a time will come when you can make an earnest effort easier than now. Every day.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 265, 267
“The new year has commenced, and with the commencement of this new year, you should dedicate yourselves to God. Now give yourself to Him, soul, body, and spirit, to do His will. Let all selfishness, your disobedience to your parents, all your faults, and besetting sins die with the old year. Begin this new year to the glory of God. Pray to Him, morning, noon, and night, to give you a meek and humble spirit, a mild temper, an affectionate disposition. Live as you never lived before. Begin this new year with new feelings, fresh desires, and a strong determination to glorify God.” –The Youth’s Instructor, January 1, 1856
“Although in one sense the first day of a new year is no more to God than any other day, yet He often puts into the heart of His children at that time a desire to begin the new year with good resolves,—perhaps with plans to carry out some worthy enterprise,—and with purposes to depart from the wrongs of the old year, and to live the new year with new determinations.
“We are yet in the early part of the new year. Let this work of consecration and progression be begun without delay. Let this first part of the new year be given to the work of pruning away the branches of selfishness. Let the mind turn with clear discernment to the work of examining critically our individual course of action. It is not our privilege to measure the actions of others or criticize their failings. God has not made us the bearers of others’ sins. It is with our own selves we have to do. The more thorough the work of repentance and reform in our own lives, the less we shall see to criticize in others.” –The Youth’s Instructor, February 11, 1908
“The old year, [2016], with its burden of records, has passed out, and the new year [2017], with its prospects, hopes, and labors, has come.
“My dear youthful readers, will you not pause, while standing upon the very threshold of [2017], and inquire of your own hearts what has been the character of the life record that has passed up to Heaven for you? The past year’s record, be it good or evil, cannot be changed. If you feel that your past life has been almost a failure, how much reason have you for gratitude to God that your probation did not close with the old year
“Another year now opens its fair unwritten pages before you. The recording angel stands ready to write. Your course of action will determine what shall be traced by him. You may make your future life good or evil; and this will determine for you whether the year upon which you have just entered will be to you a Happy New Year. It is in your power to make it such for yourself and for those around you. If you connect with God, you may make bright sunshine in the family circle by thoughtfulness of others’ comfort, putting away all discontent, and being cheerful, courteous, and obedient, or you may pursue a course that will bring a dark shadow upon the hearts of those who have ever loved you, watched over you, and cared for you from your earliest infancy.” –The Youth’s Instructor, January 5, 1881
What is your testimony at the end of another year? What is the example you are setting at home, in the church, and in your walk of life? God expects, and wants, us to reflect His character to others. “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 24:44. Have a blessed New Year, and may the New Year see us ready for His return.
“You will not be able to say that He will come in one, two, or five years, neither are you to put off His coming by stating that it may not be for ten or twenty years. . . . We are not to know the definite time either for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit or for the coming of Christ.” –Evangelism, p. 221
The New Year 2017 lies before us, and plans should be made for earnest, persevering effort in the Master’s service. For the sake of Christ, brothers and sisters, let us take full advantage of the hours, days, weeks, and months of the New Year for God’s honour and glory!
Victor Shumbusho, D. R. Congo