What Will Happen in 2021
By Bruce Cannon
Mitchell County
As this article is read the New Year will most likely have already come. The previous year will have passed, and we will be facing many challenges and opportunities ahead. I am so thankful that while we do not know what tomorrow holds, we know who holds tomorrow. This is the message of the song: I Know Who Holds Tomorrow by Alison Krauss
I don’t know about tomorrow; I just live for day to day.
I don’t borrow from its sunshine, For its skies may turn to grey.
I don’t worry o’er the future, For I know what Jesus said.
And today I’ll walk beside, Him, For He knows what lies ahead.
Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow, And I know who holds my hand.
Our Heavenly Father knows everything and is already in our tomorrow’s readying grace, arranging circumstances, and will be our merciful and faithful High Priest when the trials or hardships of life come.
Our world is constantly changing. Leonard Sweet, a Christian futurist, made the following comment, “If you were born before the year 1960 the world you were born in no longer exists.” He is referring to those values once held dear being cast aside by so many, so quickly. Things such as absolute truth, strong work ethics, integrity, honesty, respect for authority, and so forth are some of those things of which he speaks.
While some changes are good, many are not. What will 2021 bring? What new challenges will we face?
2020 has been an extremely challenging year, to say the least! COVID-19 has ravaged so many homes, taken the lives of so many people around the world, forced so many businesses into bankruptcy and closure, and has caused so many people to lose their jobs…many even their homes. It has brought about more drug and alcohol use because of forced isolation and fear.
Consider some of the other issues facing our nation.
- So much talk about moving America into socialism.
- Approving the use of marijuana across the nation.
- Removing all restrictions delaying abortions.
- The fact that evil is becoming much more emboldened.
- The Word of God being mocked and cast aside when it is the only means of truth we can live by.
When I think about many of the decisions our nation is making, a Scripture from Paul in Romans 1:22 comes to mind: “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” The decisions of our government can bring about, and will bring about, many dire consequences upon every American.
While all of the above is true, and while many more issues are facing us, our God is unchanging and able to see us through any situation that comes our way! What must we do to tap into His power, His wisdom, and His grace? In the epistle of James, he writes some valuable words of insight and instruction in 4:6-10: “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 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. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
Draw near to the Lord. Be, as best as you are able, just as close to Him spiritually as possible. Be under the shadow of the Almighty. Living there you will be in a position to experience His blessings, His protection, His peace, and His power!
How do we do this? Be still before Him. Have the boldness to say as David, “search me, O God.” Let Him reveal things in your life that are not pleasing to Him and as 2 Chronicles 7:14 dictates, “shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways,” that we might have His full blessings in our lives.
We can then, with confidence, peace, and hope, face whatever challenges 2021 may bring. Amen!
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Reverend Bruce Cannon currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church in Bakersville. Formerly he served as Director of Missions for the Bladen Baptist Association and he has served on the General Board of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
You can read more Good Christian News from Pastor Cannon HERE.
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