Thought for Today

Exodus 5:1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, so that they may celebrate a festival to me in the wilderness.'"

Numbers 29:12 On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not work at your occupations. You shall celebrate a festival to the LORD seven days.

 Luke 15:23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;  

1 Corinthians 5:8 Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.  

How are you going to celebrate New Year’s Eve? Are you going ‘clubbing?’ Will you stay up to watch the ball drop in Times Square? Maybe some sort of revel? Greta and I are going to party!

I should explain that we are part of a social group which regularly meets on Wednesday afternoons. Since New Year’s Eve is on a Wednesday, our group decided to have our regular 1:00pm to 3:00pm get together. Given that we are all ‘of an age,’ any revelry will be suitably subdued and appropriate. Our regular host has graciously offered a light repast . . . but, we will all be on the road home in time to avoid driving after dark. Revelry at our age is wherever you can find it.

“The celebration of New Year’s Eve dates back thousands of years, with the earliest recorded festivities occurring in ancient Babylon around 4,000 years ago. The Babylonians celebrated the arrival of spring with a festival called Akitu, which lasted for 11 days and involved various rituals and ceremonies. This festival marked the beginning of the agricultural year and was a time for renewal and growth.” (Copilot Search)

Obviously, we are not celebrating the arrival of spring tonight. Julius Caesar set January 1st as the beginning of the new year for the Romans. He was honoring the Roman god Janus, the two-faced god. The idea was that on New Year’s Eve, January 1st, we can look back at the ending year and simultaneously look forward toward the year to come. Think about that tonight if you party. Maybe looking back and forward at 2025 and 2026 is the reason why alcohol is such a significant element of New Year’s Eve parties.

I believe one of the reasons we celebrate New Year’s Eve is that the year ahead offers the hope of discernable progress toward God’s will being done on earth as it is in heaven. Until the clock chimes at midnight tonight, we can hope for the realization of God’s kingdom. That hope is a reason to party. That hope does propel us to move into the coming year joyfully. That hope usually lasts at least until 1:05am on New Year’s Day.

Will 2026 be the year? Will 2026 see the end of war? The end of misogyny? The end of suffering and want? Not likely! Most likely, 2026 will be a continuation of 2025, a continuation of the rancor and divide in our nation and in our world. But, there is always hope for tomorrow.

Greta and I will ‘revel’ with friends this afternoon. Our group are all people of faith. We met at a previous church I served. On this coming Sunday, we will worship with the congregation I now serve. Throughout Christendom, in 2026 as in every previous year, Christians will continue in hope and prayer for the full realization of the Kingdom of God. Throughout Christendom, in 2026 as in every previous year, individual Christians, denominations and organizations will work to bring about the realization of God’s Kingdom on earth.

Why? Because we have the sure and certain promise. Because we know the truth of John 3:16 and the truth of the beloved him Jesus Loves Me. Because we have read and believe the words of Jesus, “John 14:2 In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.” Will we all get there in 2026? I do not know. But having faith and hope is certainly a valid reason to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

Stay safe, believe, trust God,

Pastor Ray