How to Fulfill Your New Year’s Resolutions
By Terry Cheek Th.D.
McDowell County
By the Lord’s amazing Grace, we find ourselves at the beginning of another New Year! 2022 is in front of us and once again we are asking the question; what will I do with it? By the way, it’s a healthy question to ask. There is a lot to be said about making plans, commitments, promises, and even the popular resolutions for the coming year. There is, even more, to say about keeping them. Keeping any plan, commitment, promise or resolution requires that we embrace with our heart what is necessary to fulfill the expectations placed upon our lives. Let’s talk about that for a little while.
Every year we make promises with the fullest intention of keeping them. Maybe we’re going to drop a few pounds or quit smoking or get away from immorality. Maybe we’re going to get back in church or quit drinking or doing drugs. Too often you keep falling short, year in and year out. With it comes the feeling of being a failure. You let yourself down, maybe even your family, friends, or spouse. Why? Why do you fail? I have the answer, I also have some words of encouragement for you, please keep reading!
First, understand that you do not have what it takes to overcome the pitfalls of life. The pitfalls of life come from sin and within each one of us is a sin nature. Maybe you have never heard of that. Simply put we are born separated from God because of the sin of Adam and Eve. We are told in Romans 3:10 “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one:” and again in Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God;” we cannot within ourselves overcome the sin nature within us.
Second, there is a consequence or penalty that comes with sin. Every one of us is headed for this penalty. Notice with me Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Sin has the death penalty. This death penalty is eternal death, a death beyond our heartbeat. That isn’t very good news to begin a New Year with, is it? If we stopped right there, we could find no hope and have no confidence moving into 2022, but the Bible continues so let’s continue in it! God has a gift. Payment for the penalty (consequence) of sin, a payment that doesn’t mean eternal death. God offers eternal life as a substitute for eternal death.
Third, the eternal life that God offers was provided by Jesus Christ! Jesus paid the penalty for our sin. Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Commendeth is an old English word that simply means God shows or displays, in this case, His love. Even while we are living with a sinful nature embedded in our lives and having no hope, Jesus died for us! He did this to prevent you from dying an eternal death. All the pleasures you may find in sin; for example, drinking, drugs, immorality, greed, lying, cheating. They are short-lived pleasure, short-lived because the end is death. It’s important to understand, we are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners! Jesus is the salvation of sinners.
Fourth, how does Jesus remedy our sinful nature? I’m glad you ask! Your Bible tells you in Romans 10:9-10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Simply put, confess, and believe! Confess that Jesus and only Jesus can save you. There is no other person who can take the place of Jesus Christ as your savior. You must be willing to confess that. To confess Jesus as your savior you must believe that God did raise Jesus from the dead. That’s right, it’s no fairy tale. Jesus’ resurrection is a reality you must accept by faith, then by that same faith confess Jesus as the only forgiveness of sin, your sin!
This miracle is called being born again! Having this new life in Jesus Christ gives you His presence daily. That’s right, Christ lives within you. In that fact is the strength you need to fulfill your New Year resolutions. Whatever they may be with Jesus in your life they will be the right decisions made with the presence of godly strength and you will have the faith to let God lead you to success His way in 2022! Until we meet again in print or person may God keep you firmly in His grip!
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Terry is the Executive Director and broadcaster of The Inspiring Word media ministry. You can contact Terry by email at theinspiringword@gmail.com.
Or by visiting www.theinspiringword.org. Read more good Christian news from Terry here.
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