Our Beliefs : Sermons : Sermon Archive - 2007 : December 31, 2007

Theme: The Re-Solution

Church year occasion: New Year's Eve

As we close another year and look forward to 2008, it is the time to look back on the past year and look forward to the new. And with the new year come new resolutions to do better than we did last year. The origins of New Year's resolutions go all the way back to 153 B.C. when January 1 was fixed as New Year's Day on the Roman calendar. The Romans had a mythical god-king named Janus. Janus had two faces, which allowed him to look both forward and backward in battle. He was the god of doorways and gates because both can be passed in either direction. The first month on the Roman calendar was named after him for obvious reasons: He could look back on the past year's events and forward to the future year. As the new year began, many Romans sought forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts, and so began the tradition of resolutions -- trying to better oneself in the coming year. We can make all the resolutions we want to make, but can you guess the average length of a New Year's resolution before it is broken? January 8th. What does that tell you? When it comes to human resolve, whether it's keeping a resolution or something more important, we need help.

That's where the Word of God comes in. Listen to (read) Isaiah as he talks about the importance not of keeping resolutions, but of pursuing righteousness and seeking the Lord in the new year.

God doesn't mince words. When we try to get through this life by ourselves and our own strength, we have dug our own grave. But we see a very different picture for believers who live among the unbelieving in this world. Let's look again at verses 1-2:

Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many.

Why should we trust the Lord when times are tough? Why should we lean on him and trust not in our own understanding or in our own strength? Because he has shown his trustworthiness in the past, even when all hope seemed to be gone.

Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn....

Who is often referred to as a rock in the Scriptures? God, the Rock of our salvation, the Rock of Ages. But that's not to whom this rock is referring. Verse 2 tells us:

...look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth.

Abraham and Sarah couldn't begin the nation of Israel. Sarah was barren in the first place, and in the second place, even if she wasn't, she was past child-bearing age (65) when God told Abraham he would make him into a great nation. Abraham was 75. Nothing happened for 25 years except God reiterating his promise. Sarah finally had a child when she was 90 and Abraham was 100. And that was the point in what God was saying to his people. God makes the impossible possible.

Why is that so important? Because our lives aren't just filled with failed resolutions like trying to lose weight or reducing our debt. Our lives are littered with disobedience, of failed promises, of lying, cheating and every other thing that the Lord hates. And just to drive that home, let's look at a few things we did this past year.

On a scale from 0-100 (0 being absolutely failing and 100 being perfect), how did you do this past year on:

Lying -- Were you completely dishonest all the time (0) or completely truthful (100)?
Complaining -- Did you complain even over the most insignificant matters (0) or did you always humbly submit to God's will (100) and never complain at all, even in the most trying of circumstances?
Worrying -- Did you worry when the bank account dropped to below $10,000 (0) or did you humbly trust God's wisdom in everything, even when your bank account was overdrawn, and still manage to give to the Lord even beyond your means (100)?
Finding fault with others -- Did you constantly look down on others (0) or did you always take their words and actions in the kindest possible way (100)?

To do God's will, you'd have to score a 100 the whole year through, your whole life through, in every aspect of your life. It just isn't going to happen. And as a result of our many failings, we have incurred the wrath of a very serious and justice-loving God.

So that's why we need to listen to God's Word again:

The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.

And this is why:

Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations. My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm.

This is speaking of the coming Savior. His law in this case is his Word, the main message of which is the gospel, the good news that God sent a Savior to pay for all your failed promises and resolutions, all your sins and spiritual failings. At Isaiah's time that gospel had not yet been fulfilled. But it's been almost 2000 years since we've seen God's justice done. But it wasn't leveled against us; it was leveled against God's own Son Jesus, who took the fall for us as the innocent Lamb of God. He has taken away the sins of the world, and that means he's taken away your sins as well.

Isaiah goes on to speak not of Jesus' first coming, but also of his second coming at the end of time, which we are still looking forward to:

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.

This gives us a picture of the final day, when Jesus will return in judgment for unbelievers, but with salvation and final redemption for believers.

So what resolutions have you made this New Year? Here are the top 10:

Weight loss/Get in Shape
Stick to a budget
Debt reduction
Enjoy more quality time with family and friends
Find a spouse
Quit smoking
Get a better job/Change careers
Learn a new skill/hobby
Volunteer/Serve people
Get more organized

If we've made any resolutions, chances are we've failed. But every time we fail in following God's will, we look at that last verse of our text and rejoice:

my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.

So instead of trying out all of these other resolutions that will most likely fail, think of this resolution for the new year: Seek the Lord and his will. Trust more in his Word by getting more into his Word. And when you fail, which you will, remember his forgiveness which is new every morning. Every time we fail, Jesus is the Solution. Every time we fail, he is the Re-Solution. Think of how you can keep your mind on the things of God this coming year, how you can rededicate your life to him and seek him in all things, especially for your forgiveness. It worked for Abraham and Sarah. God can do amazing things -- impossible things -- like saving us from sin. Trust him for that, and see what more amazing things he will do in your life. This year, make Jesus the Solution and the Re-Solution to everything. Amen.