2003 Predictions

A Happy New Year! I wish you a Happy New Year! In Greece the greeting for the New Year, and even most holidays, is “Hronia Polla-meaning “may you live many years”! We heard these jovial New Year’s greetings on January 1,2003, and still hear it many weeks after and still today. This wish was heard around the world, far and near, by parents, and children, brothers and sisters, acquaintances, and friends, merchants and passers-by.

In a wild, chilling world like ours, this New Year’s greeting seems far more appropriate than the Merry Christmas many followers of this day lately uttered from lip to lip.

But, dear brethren and friends, we’re all still here, aren’t we… or most of us are!!? That’s are miracle isn’t it? On the other hand, however, in this chaotic world, are many pale faces, their faces with furrowed brows in pain or bodies bowed over with old age. Wherever we walk or turn in Greece, we see the tell-tale black clothes of mourning. It may not be so obvious, but the same mourning exists all over the world with other signs, nevertheless.

In many houses there is a vacant chair where a beloved child, a husband and father, a mother whose presence gladdened the New Year’s festivities and for many, too, the holiday that preceded it. But, now that beloved one is gone from the family circle. Whether the festivities are merely tradition or customary…someone is missing… tragically missing. The greeting of “Happy New Year” may seem like a mockery to a mourning or bereaved family, that sadly has no hope for the future.

But, whatever the cares and sorrows of life, or whatever the mistakes and errors of the past, the “Happy New Year,” when offered as an expression of love or respect, is a pleasant sound to our ears, isn’t’ it? And yet, aren’t these kind wishes forgotten after they are said?

How often we fail to carry their importance into daily life. The New Year’s greeting is often said with insincere lips… from hearts that wouldn’t give up one selfish gratification in order to make others happy. Those who receive gifts and favours every New Year; many accept as due them… expected.

Receiving daily the bounties of heaven, sunshine, showers, food, clothes, friends, and a home; all the priceless blessings of life, they forget who the Giver is. They forget the promises of God, and that Jesus Christ, the Majesty of heaven, identifies with suffering, with humanity in His saints, and the poor. “It was I whom you neglected.” What are you looking for or “wishing” for in this New Year we have entered quietly? Are you looking for a “Happy New Year”? Then seek the Lord, to honour Him, and make everyone around you happy. Let those who seek this… start today, this New Year.

Share your gifts of providence with those who are more needy. Bring to the Lord your offerings of gratitude. Are we withholding from the Lord; withholding that which He claims from us? Are your tithes and offerings going elsewhere and not to the local church, where all the needs begin? All of this, and from this, in return for all the blessings He’s given us?

There are many whose wants and desires increase faster than their income, and they no longer return to God that which is owed or due Him. So, then is developed that same spirit of covetousness which destroyed Judas. Have we neglected to care for the poor, and comfort the sorrowing? Someone once told Sis. E.G. White, “I’m tired of this constant asking for money from our church, from the General Conference, asking for money continuously. When will it stop?” She answered, “Never, never, no, never, until Christ shall put on His clothes of vengeance, and from His lips shall be said, ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still, and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still.'” (Rev. 22:11). When the Lord forgets our needs, forgets to be gracious, forgets to send us His gifts, to fill our home and cellars, then we can have an excuse for withholding our offering and tithes. It’s a thank offering, perpetually.

God has never stopped giving His love. He guards us every moment by His care, and holds us up. He sends us the cheering happy sunshine, and the invigorating air, our paths are filled with His gifts of eternal love. He covers our table with food. He gives us rest and sleep. Every week He brings us the Sabbath, the day which He has sanctified and blessed for the good of man. We are free from the world’s tiresome work, and busy confusion. We can worship here freely according to our own conscience with no one to molest us, or make us afraid… yet. “So, freely you receive, freely give.” (Mat. 10:8).

The prophets and apostles suffered torture and death for their religion. But, there is no prison or cruel rack waiting for us, for our loyalty to God… yet. Whenever we lift our hearts to Him with true repentance and faith, He opens up the windows of heaven, and gives us His blessings. “Goodness and mercy,” then constantly surrounds us. (Ps. 23); shall even “follow us all the rest of our days of our lives.” Believe this!

Many today feel sorry for their backsliding in their faith and morals, and their need of peace, and rest in Christ. But their last year’s record shows that they have separated themselves from God and the church. Why? Because of their lack of strict honesty, sincerity, and righteousness. Their hearts must be examined and eyes opened to see the selfishness of their motives. Then their prayer will be, “Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me.” (Ps.91:10).

If you did something wrong this past year, then show proof of your repentance. Show proof of your genuine truthful reformation, and then, you will enjoy the peace of heaven in the after-life… the New Jerusalem.

Year by year, increasing light is shining on our pathway. The light we had in 2002 is not the light for us in this year-2003. If that light has been faithfully improved, we may look for still greater light in the year that’s before us. Dear brethren, the increased light you receive puts you under greater obligation, also!

Your Christian growth should be in relation to the privileges you enjoy. The more you grow… the more your privileges. Each day that passes should find you better prepared to meet new trials and take on new responsibilities. Do you realize this? Do you appreciate this fact? Do you realize your duty to others?

Think of the influence that every word and act of your life may have on those around you. A lasting impression may be made which can work on you in blessing or cursing. This thought gives an awful seriousness to life! This thought should help lead us, or better “drive” us to prayer… that He will guide us then by His wisdom and not ours and our frailties.

It’s easy for many professed Christians to lift up Jesus, His perfections and love, under the appearance of great devotion and Godliness, but at the same time being critical of others! It’s easy for them to talk about the truth and importance of keeping the commandments of God when they never made a practical application of our principles in their daily lives. They have not made a success of serving God. So, what happens? They have lost the precious comfort, support, protection and health which come from communion with Him… a frightful thought!

We belong to Jesus, and not to anyone else. He has bought us with His blood. We owe Him a debt of gratitude we can never repay. But, which we should acknowledge and recognize every day. How? By willing, unselfish service. Each one of us has been assigned for some special work in the vineyard. There’s enough work to do! No one needs to stand by idly, saying there’s nothing to do but… wait, or “I have no time”!

Have you been faithful in your appointed work? Doing what you could to win others to the truth?
Think! How many have been led to the cross of Christ through your individual efforts? Think again! Have you by your examples and precepts pointed your fellow men to the Lamb of God? Or, have you by being worldly led their thoughts and affections into a wrong channel?

Many of us made great mistakes last year. Will those mistakes be repeated during the New Year we have entered, so calmly or boldly? Think again, seriously, again. Did you trust in your own opinion? Human judgment is limited when you blindly look to self and go your own way.

Examine yourself. Where are you going? What’s the tendency of your course; trusting in your own strength and wisdom or His? The “spirit is a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart”. (Heb. 1:12) It will reveal to you how you stand in the nature of your work. With each revelation of His providence, each step, we can see He takes in His work to move it forward with power. God’s hand is working! He has planned to awaken us to greater zeal, and encouragement.

We can then, hopefully and confidently, look for more wonderful and glorious victories of the truth in the New Year. Ask yourselves this New Year, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Mk. 10:91) Furthermore, say, “Lord, here am I; send me.” (Isa. 6:8).

His spirit is at work on the minds of man, preparing them to receive the truth. Let all your efforts be used to receive all the blessings of His providence. We say, “Be up on it… Be with it… Be ready!” Do something! Do it now!
Here’s another thought for the New Year. The Israelites shook the world when Jesus entered Jerusalem. We are the Israelites of this Age, the remnant, that will shake the world on its heels with our “three angels message” and the “second coming of Christ”.

Let the record of the New Year-2003-be one that you will not be ashamed of. In the secret chambers of our hearts, be communing with our Father all the day long; either “hearing” His voice, “asking” His guidance, or “making confession”. If any of these things are missing… we fail!

It is still a young and tender year. But, as with each developing New Year, we hear many predictions. This, however, is nothing new. Prediction at best is a risky business. Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626), an English essayist and statesman said, “Dreams and predictions ought to serve but for winter talk by the fireside.”

That may be true of man’s predictions, but not of God’s prophecies. Man continues to speculate and predict about what will happen day by day or year by year, but God showed us in the Bible, the word of God, that He knows the future. This comforting truth is one reason we can have absolute confidence in God’s Holy Word. The Old Testament has hundreds of prophecies that have already been fulfilled; 2300 prophecies in the Bible concerning empires, nations, cities and people; 333 prophecies alone pointing to the life of Jesus before He was born! The New Testament describes the fulfillment of these prophecies. The chance of that many predictions coming true is astronomical!

We may expect, also, the claims of false prophets and visions of misled people in the days to come. There will also be false and fanatical movements in the church who claim to be led of God. Furthermore, some have predicted things that actually did take place. But, the things that did not take place were kept in the dark, or were treated as something mysterious, which would be understood later. They receive their inspiration from satanic agencies, which are many. (2SM 72-77) (PP687).

Do you lack confidence in the Bible? Spend some time examining its many fulfilled prophecies. I “predict” you’ll be convinced, that it is truly God’s Word, and that you can rely on it for “everything” in your future. The world is changing… but you can trust God’s unchanging Word.

“Take heed how you hear” (Lk 8:18) and again, “Take head what you hear” (Mk. 4:24). Furthermore, examine closely, “prove all things” (1 Thes. 5:2). Moreover, “believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1).

This is the counsel of God, shall we heed it? (Letter 12, 1890) He leads us on! It shall be a good and blessed New Year.
AMEN