Of course, we’re all thinking about the New Year.
And with 2020 finally wrapping up, I’m sure there are a lot of folks longing to archive this year as “one for the books.”
But what will 2021 be like? Will it be better? We certainly hope so.
On the other hand, this election debacle is definitely not over and COVID-19, I hear, is morphing into a new strain. So at the risk of getting hit with rotten tomatoes from the audience, I wouldn’t bet my money on 2021 suddenly getting better just because we turn the page of our calendars. As a matter of fact, I suspect it could get a lot worse.
That said, we would do good to pause and ask of what or of whom we are afraid.
Are we afraid there was fraud this election cycle? Are we afraid of dying of COVID-19 (or at least getting really sick from it)? Are we afraid the whole thing has been blown out of proportion for some nefarious, probably political, reason?
Are we afraid the country is so divided that we are going to erupt into a civil war? And what about our jobs and the economy and the side-effects of the new vaccine? Will the government force us to take the vaccine? And, what if my neighbor or friend won’t take it?
Are we afraid of a global conspiracy to take over the world? What if everyone is just overreacting—with tinfoil hats and the whole shebang? What if America becomes a socialist nation? What if it doesn’t? What if it becomes Fascist? What if it stays the same? Are we afraid Trump might stay in office? What if Biden and Harris take the helm in January?
Are we afraid of other changes that might be coming, ones we are at this moment still unaware of?
I could go on but you get the point.
There are million-and-one things to be afraid of, yet one of the worst thing we could do is bank on 2021 suddenly turning a corner for the good. That’s one sure way of getting false hopes up just high enough for them to shatter irrevocably like a Mikasa dish dropped from the third story window onto an icy sidewalk.
But all that is to say I’m not at all pessimistic about the future and I want to encourage you to not be either.
Those who know the Scriptures know conspiracies are real (Psalm 2:1). They also know people tend to overreact, seek vengeance when injured, and use bad circumstances to gain more power (2 Samuel 2:19-23 cf. 3:26-27 and 17:25 cf. 20:9-10).
In other words, humans are humans, and though most humans are as sinful as they can be, every last one of us is rotten at the core.
Those who know the Scriptures also know how it all turns out (Revelation 21:1-8).
Simply put, whatever happens in 2021, we shouldn’t look to Washington DC, the CDC, or the WHO for our solace. And we most surely want to avoid superstitiously crossing our fingers as we turn the calendar hoping Fortune turns her wheel in our favor in a few days.
Not to get too preachy—okay, maybe just a little—Jesus is still on the throne and we need to keep that at the center of our purview. See what the Scriptures say:
“But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”” -Luke 22:69
“So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.” -Mark 16:19
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” -Colossians 3:1
Of course, we could go on with the numerous other biblical references to Christ’s reign in this epoch (e.g., Acts 7:55, 56; Rom. 8:34; Eph. 1:20; Heb. 1:3; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; 1 Pet. 3:22; Rev. 3:21; See Matt. 22:44; Acts 2:33), but there is a practical point to all of this. Jesus really is at the right hand of the Father reigning over everything.
Remember the way Abraham Kuyper famously put it?
“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”
Christians who keep the knowledge of Christ’s reign at the center of their purview live joyfully and freely under Christ’s righteous authority in our practical, everyday affairs.
For example, Jesus told us we are to render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s (Luke 20:25, Mark 12:17, and Matthew 22:21). Most Christians stop at the first imperative and forget the second one. Let’s not do that.
Also, we are also told to “Fear not!” (Matthew 10:31), and to love God with all our being and our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). We are further told to confess our sins (1 John 1:9, 2:1-2), be fruitful, multiply, and make disciples of the nations (Genesis 1:28-29, 9:7, Matthew 28:18-20). Part of all these things is properly educating our children (Ephesians 6:4). I could go on but I shouldn’t have to. As a well-known politician recently put it, “You know the thing!”
Whatever happens in 2021, let’s live unto Jesus as King. Not Trump. Not Biden. Not Fauci. Not ourselves. It might cost us something. God forbid, we might end up in jail or with COVID, or maybe worse. None of that should surprise us (2 Timothy 3:12) but remember the most important thing can never be taken from us (Romans 8:28-39).
Thank you.