A whole new year - A whole new me

 

The year is now 2008 -  although for many of us it may be late February before we get it right on the checks we write.  Each New Year brings with it new concerns, new frustrations, new challenges, new opportunities.  And at the beginning of each year, many try to make a clean sweep of things.  Resolutions and promises are made to start all over again, to stop certain habits, to start new ones or to rid oneself of a certain amount of pounds.  It would seem that the best time for Spring cleaning would be this time of the year.  For it is amazing what you can find when you do a bit of cleaning. Recently I was going through the closet, cleaning up and destroying unneeded old records. In the cleaning process there was some hope of finding some forgotten millions or something but really found things far more exciting and valuable. Looking over some old bill or cancelled check came reminders of the past, some things that had been totally forgotten.  Maybe it was something exciting that had happened a long time ago or maybe something that needed to be remembered.

 

In 2 Chronicles 34:14-18 the Israelites were cleaning out the cobwebs and dusty corners of the Temple.  The whole place had been in quite a disarray because king after king in that divided country did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.  Every once in a while there were a few who “did what is right in the eyes of the Lord.  Josiah was one of those men, and after he was made king he started tearing down all the pagan idols and altars in the area and started purging the land. It was like Operation Clean Sweep. Finally they get around to work on the House of God. It was a time to remodel, renovate and clean up the act in the temple.  We are told the the whole process would not come cheap, but funds were provided in a collection taken years before.  The cleaning project brought something very valuable to light, the very Word of God  In the dark recesses of that Temple, the original book of the Law written by Moses was found. The question we need to ask is why was the word ever hidden?   Why had it disappeared and not found until now?  The answer of course is because people had their eyes elsewhere, they were not in prayer without ceasing, in constant search for God.  

 

When the Word was found, there was truly a new movement in the Land of Israel.  King Josiah called for a time of repentance, not just resolutions, but a time to repent, to truly change the ways of the people.    Revival broke out in Jerusalem.  People were transformed, reformation broke out, and as a result the wrath of God was averted.  The invasion of the land by the enemy was avoided and this repentant generation did not experience the hurt of exile but rather lived in peace.

 

In many ways the situation is quite similar to today.  Many have forgotten the Word.  God's will is hidden away, covered up by the things of this world, which seem to fill our hearts and minds, the Temple of God today.  Perhaps  this may be the best time to do some Spring cleaning, to search for the Lord with all our hearts and minds.  To seek and find Him and know that He is Lord.

 

This new year let us all take time to make a Clean sweep of things, to Regain the Word, Repent of our sins and find renewal and rest in Him.

 

Happy New year,  Happy new you

 

 

Rich