Leave the Past Behind

We will be bidding a fond farewell to 2009—some only too glad to have it behind. There have been many defining moments this year: our first African American president, the first female Speaker of the House, and the appointment of the first Latina Supreme Court Justice. And a defining moment for heroism was the extraordinary emergency landing in the Hudson River by Captain "Sully" of US Airways Flight 1549. Unfortunately, these good events are nearly over- shadowed by as many hard-to-forget human failures, not the least of which was the moral fall of Tiger Woods—in the zenith of his life.

As we come to the end of this year, maybe you feel there is some personal defining moment from 2009 you would like to forget about. Well, I have good news for you; you can. At a time of tragic failure in Israel, the prophet Jeremiah says: “I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet, I still dare to hope when I remember this: The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day” (Lamentations 3:21-23). The New Testament parallel is what Paul calls the newness of life (Ro. 6:4). Every day “old things are passed away” as yesterday's failures are forgiven and forgotton: they do not define us. Rather, we are continually being defined as a new creatures in Christ. Every “today” all things are made new (2 Cor. 5:17).

The story of the prodigal son reveals God's attitude to failure. When the prodigal returns home, expecting payback, his father brings out the best robe and throws a party. This is the message of hope: a chance to start over, a new beginning. God never gives up on anyone. I hope this is an encouragement to someone today. Our God is the God of new beginnings. Let this thought give you hope in the New Year.