Hope for the New Year

(3 Minute Read. 30Dec2020)

New Year Blessings to all readers of the Bible-Science Guy Blog!

2021 will soon be here — before we know it.

I do have good memories of big blessings scattered throughout the past year despite its profusion of plague, turmoil, trouble, and disappointment. Thankfully, I have sound reason and solid evidence to hope next year will be one of fulfillment and joy.

The word hope appears in English versions of the Bible 130-150 times depending on nuances of translation. Vigorous encouragement to hope is a preponderant theme echoing throughout the Scriptures. Roughly half of the references to hope occur in the Old Testament and half in the New Testament.

The foundation for the believer’s hope is that the Great Creator is in detailed control of His creation and He loves His people.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32 KJV)

Two thousand years ago, hope for the broken human race burst into the world with the first breath of a baby in a manger. It was the birth of hope, and that hope has endured.

Matthew said Isaiah prophesied of Jesus, “In His name the Gentiles will hope.” (Matthew 12:21)

Jesus of Nazareth is the hope of all peoples and nations. He is the One to whom we look in faith, confidence, and hope for the future — for this life and for the life to come.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV)

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
(Colossians 1:21-23 ESV)

Despite the continuing danger of the China Plague in the New Year and despite the temptation to fear that it arouses, the resounding message of Scripture is one of hope — not fear. Disciples of Jesus should heed what Yahweh told the prophet Isaiah in a time of great national distress some 2700 years ago.
For the LORD spoke thus to me with His strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, Him you shall honor as holy. Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.
(Isaiah 8:11-13 ESV)

The Psalmist likewise urged hope in God in times of trouble:
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God. (Psalms 43:5 ESV)

Yahweh is in complete control of His universe, and therefore believers have hope and confidence.
Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come? Why should a living man complain, a man, about the punishment of his sins? Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD! Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven.
(Lamentations 3:37-41 ESV)

Jesus, who gave His life as a ransom, calls men to repentance from sin. He offers everlasting life to all who trust in Him. (John 3:16-18)

That is the truth that should fill our hearts and minds with hope, thanksgiving, and worship throughout the New Year.

May the blessings of Christ abide with all readers of the Bible-Science Guy Blog throughout the New Year.

Questions to Ponder

1. How would you personally complete this statement? “I have hope for the New Year because …”
2. What person’s example lifts your heart to hope in the midst of turmoil?

Share your thoughts on these questions in the comments below. It could encourage or help another reader.

For Christ and His Kingdom. Soli Deo Gloria. Alere Flammam Veritatis.

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©William T. Pelletier, Ph.D.
“contending earnestly for the faith”
“destroying speculations against the knowledge of God”
“for the defense of the gospel”
(Jude 1:3; 2 Cor 10:5; Phil 1:16)
Wednesday December 30, 2020 A.D.

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His. (Romans 6:3-5 ESV)

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