Our Beliefs : Sermons : Sermon Archive - 2003 : December 31, 2003
Face 2004 with Confidence
New Year's Eve
A family moved into a new town. One day, the father took his six-year-old son out for a walk to see the sights. As they walked downtown, they saw many unfamiliar streets and sights. After some time, the little boy looked up at his father and said, with his voice shaking, "Daddy, are you lost?" The father didn't answer the question. Instead, he tightened his grip on his son's hand and asked him: "Son, are you lost?"
A big smile came on that six-year-old's face. "Oh no," he said, "I'm not lost. I'm with you, Daddy." Being with Daddy meant that he wasn't lost. He had nothing to worry about. His fears were gone.
Tonight, we say goodbye to 2003. With a quivering voice, we say hello to 2004. As we turn this corner on a new year, before us lie some long and unfamiliar streets and sights. We've never travelled this route before. What will we see along the way? Will we see the war on terrorism become a huge success or a more dismal failure than we could have imagined? Will the United States experience an even greater tragedy than 9-11-2001 this year? Will we see our families split apart? Will we see sickness on our front doorstep, or the grim reaper come barging into our lives?
As we enter 2004, just like that little boy, we can easily feel lost and afraid. That's why it's a good idea for us to stop tonight and remember. Remember that the LORD is our strength, the LORD is our Savior, and the LORD is our security. That's why we can Face 2004 with Confidence.
I think that our sermon text, the words God spoke to Joshua, are familiar to most of you. During the 40 years in the desert, Joshua was the "right-hand-man" of Moses. Well, the time came when Moses died. Who would lead the Children of Israel now? God chose Joshua to lead His people into the Promised Land. Talk about a tough job! Moses' shoes were some very big shoes to fill indeed!
Joshua was 85 years old when He took over the helm. How would you like to have this job of leading two million plus people at the age of 85? Where would He get the strength?
Also, the land of Canaan was filled with nasty and fearful enemies. On paper, the Children of Israel didn't stand a chance of making this land their new home. They were outnumbered 10 to 1, perhaps 20 to 1, maybe even 50 to 1. Where would they get the strength to drive them out?
That's why the LORD encouraged the people with these words. Three times in our text and just before it he told Joshua to be strong and courageous. The LORD also supplied the means for Joshua's strength and courage. Listen to this: "Do not let this Book of the Law, depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then, you will be prosperous and be successful." Where would Joshua get His strength? Not from himself. Not from blind luck. His strength would come from a continuing diet of God's Word, and applying that word to His life. In feeding on God's word, God promised Joshua success. That doesn't mean everything would be great for Joshua. It doesn't mean that if we read the Bible, we will live in a mansion or drive a Mercedes, either. But it does mean that God would crown all of Joshua's endeavors with God's kind of success, making everything work out for Joshua's good and the good of his people.
Many like to make New Year's Resolutions: to get in shape and lose some weight, to retire our credit card bills, to be more dedicated this year to God and his will than last year. Why not resolve to read and study the Bible? By reading only five chapters a day, you could read the whole Bible in less than a year. You can't find anything better to do, and it's reading that will change your life. As you read it, you'll be feeding your Christian faith with the power of the Holy Spirit. As you feed your faith, your doubts will starve. With the LORD as Your strength, we can face 2004 with confidence.
Not only was the LORD Joshua's strength, He was also his Savior. Joshua was a military man with a brilliant military mind. Remember the battle of Jericho. The scouting report said that the city could never be taken. And yet, Joshua took it. But Joshua wouldn't take the credit. Joshua would have been the first to tell you: the LORD saved him.
The same is true of us. God hasn't let me see 2004 ahead of time. But I can assure you that this year will hold many blessings for you, his people. And without being a prophet of gloom and doom, there will be problems, pitfalls, and setbacks in the days ahead. That's part of living in a sinful world. But, as the blood-bought children of God, we know that Jesus has saved us from sin and its ugly consequences, by His atoning death on the cross. We're assured that he saved us because of His resurrection from the grave. That's why St. Paul could write in Romans 14:8: "If we live, we live to the LORD. If we die, we die to the LORD. So whether we live or die, we belong to the LORD." In other words, there are only two things that can happen in the lives of God's children, and both of them are good. First of all, if we live to see 2005, the Savior promises to be with us in this life. And secondly, if we die in 2004, we go to heaven with Jesus, our Savior. In either case, it's a "win-win" situation. That's why with the LORD as your strength and Savior, you can face your future with confidence.
There's one more truth I'd like to share with you. It comes to us in these words: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." With the LORD at his side, Joshua never needed to be scared of anything. With the LORD at His side, every day, He could face all the unknowns of tomorrow. He could do that because the LORD was his security.
Security is one of those things everyone wants, but few know where to find it. Many look to cash, cars, and credit cards for security. But they always come away empty. Others look to the security of their jobs, pensions, and annuities. But they too can disappear overnight.
There's only one place anyone will ever find security in an insecure world. When you don't know which direction to turn, turn to Jesus. By relying on his promises He makes to us for our lives now and in the life to come, we find security. Maybe this illustration will show you what I mean.
In the early 1850s, a traveler came to the banks of the Mississippi River for the first time. Night was coming and he had to get to the other side. There was no bridge. Seeing that it was early winter, the surface of the river was covered with ice. Could he dare walk on it? Would the ice be able to hold him?
Well, he got down on all fours to distribute his weight more evenly. Very slowly, he began to inch across the river, dreading with every move that he would hear the sound of groaning and cracking ice. As he was about half-way across, he heard a sound. But it wasn't cracking ice; it was the sound of singing behind him. He turned his head and there came a resident driving a horse-drawn wagon, full of firewood, across the river. He flew past the man in the fast lane, completely confident that the ice would hold him.
Just imagine -- here he was, hands and knees inching across the river, scared that the ice wouldn't be strong enough to hold him. And going right on by was a heavy wagon, led by a man singing away. What's the point of this illustration? Just this: When it comes to God's promises, we don't have to creep across 2004 with them, as if they can't hold us up. We can stand confidently on them, trusting God will do as He promised. He must remain faithful to all of them. That's why with the LORD as your strength, your Savior, and your security, you can face 2004 with confidence. Amen.
