Facing 2012

Facing 2012

“But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you , O Jacob , he who formed you, O Israel:

‘Fear not for I have redeemed you ; I have summoned you by name ; you are mine.

When you pass through the water . I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers , they will not sweep over you . When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned ; the flames will not set you ablaze .

For I am the Lord your God , the Holy One of Israel , your Savior;

Isaiah 43:1 – 3

It is New Year once again. Everyone is full of hope about the new year. What could we expect for the coming year 2012 ? Well we could expect for more calamities to come. Since we are experiencing “climate change” , we could expect extreme weather conditions to continue. Excessive dry season and excessive wet season. We could expect flooding to continue to happen, indeed massive flooding. There will be great earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in 2012. There might be great wars to begin in 2012 for as early as now there are news that Israel is planning to launch a major attack in Gaza. Could 2012 be the year that Israel will launch a major attack to Iran ? Which could trigger endtime scenarios all over the world. I have read from a certain website that if Israel will attack Iran , it will trigger terrorist attacks allover the world. It could create a very chaotic scenario. Fires might be set ablaze all over the world.

We have so much uncertainties to face in 2012. Could this be the year the AntiChrist will start his reign ? Throughout these uncertainties the passage above in Isaiah 43 is a beautiful comfort for all God’s children. Throughout all the calamities and chaos to happen in 2012, the Lord will be with His precious children. He will never leave them nor forsake them. The Lord God will remain our mighty Shield in times of distresses and disasters . Though the year 2012 may be filled with calamities, God promises to be with us. As long as we are living in the center of His will, we can seek refuge in Him.

Thus the major key in having the confidence to face 2012 with all the calamities it may bring is to remain living in righteousness, to remain living in accordance with the ways and will of God. The safest place still is to remain in the center of the will of God. To be really safe does not mean absence of danger, but the presence of mighty Shield who is God. And we can have the presence of God in our lives if we are living in righteousness and holiness.

As Christians we have a covenant relationship with God. His provision and protection is in us as we walk in His ways. We have to remain in this covenant relationship to be confident in facing the challenges of an earthly life. Without our covenant relationship with God, earthly life particularly in these endtimes, earthly life will be unbearable for us. In facing the year 2012 we have to remain in our covenant relationship with God to remain confident in life. For there is no greater and mightier refuge other than the Almighty God. There will be no greater than Him. He is exceedingly mightier than anything in the entire universe. We can never put our security and confidence in our businesses, bank accounts, any earthly treasure or possessions., for they are not secure at all times. They are subjects to changes happening in the world. Just one surge of a storm our possessions or businesses might be washed away. Just one economic collapse, our bank accounts might be drained.

The surest source of security is our God. He will never fade away with time. His years has no end. His powers and wisdom has no limit. He will remain unequalled throughout all the years, throughout all the generations.Many kings and rulers had already died whose bodies has long been decaying, but our God is alive forever more. To be secure for the year 2012 we have to be in a covenant relationship with God.

How to enter into a covenant relationship with God ?

We can have this covenant relationship with God by accepting JesusChrist as our personal Savior and Lord of our life. As it is written in John 1:12 :

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

All of us have become sinners. We sin in our thoughts, words and deeds. Just a lustful thought could be an act of adultery in the eyes of the Holy God. As it is written in Matthew 5:22:

“But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. “

We need to accept JesusChrist as our personal Savior to receive forgiveness from our sins. We need to transfer all our trust completely on His sacrifice on the cross two thousand years ago to receive forgiveness and redemption from our sins. As it is written on Hebrews 9:27-28 :

“Just as man is destined to die once and after that to face judgement so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people.”

After accepting Him as our personal Savior we have to accept Christ as our Lord and surrender our sins and life to Him completely. By accepting JesusChrist as our personal Savior and Lord, we can now enter into a covenant relationship with God and can have the confidence to face the year 2012.

Happy New Year !!! Happy 2012 !!!