If you are still not a Christian, that is, Jesus is still not your Lord and Saviour, I urge you to come and believe in Him today. This is the most important decision that you need to make today. The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). You are a sinner and “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23). Hence, in thislife you will not have real peace because God’s wrath is on you even as you live your life on earth. Your life will have no real peace or joy. Moreover, after you die, you will stand before the judgement seat of God. God will examine your life and judge every sin you have committed in your life: “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Heb 9:27). You will not pass this judgement because you have sinned in your thought, word, and deed. But praise the Lord! Jesus has taken the punishment due to your and my sins when he died on the cross. Do you know that your sins will bring eternal punishment? Do you know that it is sin that robs you of real peace and joy? Jesus says: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28). Let Jesus carry your burdens. Let Him cleanse you of sin. Then you will receive eternal life, and the peace and joy that transcends all understanding. Why do you want to wait? It brings no advantage. Today, today, receive salvation. Today, today, let Jesus be your Saviour. Then next year 2018 can be a truly blessed year because you have Jesus to walk life with you. He loves you with perfect love.
Dear Christians, let us serve the Lord whilst there is time because “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Cor 5:10). Do not love the world. Be like Abraham:
By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Heb. 11:9-10)
We are only here on earth for a few years. We will all have to leave this world one day and enter into eternity. Your home is not here. Are you rich? You will leave your riches behind. Are you often sick? It is only temporal. Are you suffering for Christ’s sake? Jesus says you are blessed because “blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:10). You do not need, neither will you be able to depend on this world to be truly happy. You have a better home that God has prepared for every Christian whose Lord and Saviour is Jesus Christ. You can, like the great man of faith, Abraham, be “looking forward to the city with foundations whose architect and builder is God” (Heb 10). Therefore, suffering Christian, rejoice! Press on with serving the Lord. Christians, as 2018 approaches, I urge you start setting spiritual goals. These are several goals you can set: to read the entire Bible in one/two years; to read a book on theology; to bring someone to Christ and to church; to attend cell group/fellowship meetings faithfully; to attend Sunday School faithfully; to put off a sinful habit and replace it with a holy habit. May you start setting spiritual goals to please God. Make 2018 a year of eternal value.