The new year is upon us.
It’s the season for thinking about the big picture of our lives – and for flying a little higher to gain a better perspective on it all. I want my life to count. To really count. I suppose we all do, and there’s nothing like the ring of “Happy New Year” to get us thinking about it even more.
There’s really no moving forward without at least a little looking back. In his timeless classic, the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759 – 1796) penned it like this …
“Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?”
“Auld lang syne” is a Scots phrase that literally translates to “old long since,” but has taken on more contemporary meanings like “for old time’s sake” or “for the good ole days.” The famous song, taken on by artists from Beethoven to Mariah Carey, reflects upon friendships that have stood the test of time. It starts with a rhetorical question: “Should old acquaintance be forgot?” “No” is the desired answer, clearly. You and I shouldn’t forget, but we should remember fondly the important relationships with which we’ve been blessed.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in more than one passage to be grateful for one another. We are God’s grace-gifts to each other (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11), as we strive to serve one another in the love of Christ.
But Paul also reminds us that our greatest connection is not to each other – it’s to Christ Himself! “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw – each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done (1 Corinthians 3:11-13).
As we begin a new year, this is a powerful metaphor – a timely admonition and encouragement – for us. How we live our lives in 2026 ought to be worth some front-end time, consideration, and prayer on our part. In Christ, we’re members of His body, being built up numerically – but that’s not the most important point. We’re to be growing always in spiritual maturity – that’s our high calling – individually and as a community of believers. Christ’s Church is an ongoing construction project on this side of glory – “Pardon the Mess” – but we’ll never be any stronger than our singular foundation: Christ! He’s both the Cornerstone and the Master Builder.
How you and I choose to build on that foundation counts for eternity, friends. Will we build well? Will we seek the Lord for reliable building materials like gold, silver, and precious stones? Will we rely humbly on Christ’s strong, sturdy, and invaluable resources of grace and truth, or will we try foolishly to get by on our own?
Remember: There’s only one Master Builder! He doesn’t need you or me to run the project. He calls us, by His might and for His glory, to raise a splendid edifice that will stand the test of time – a sturdy and glorious and timeless spiritual house – built by bricks of faith entirely in Him.
Wood. Hay. Straw. Forget it. We want no part of that. A spiritual life that is cheap or achieved without blood, sweat, and tears – what a waste of time! And, let’s face it: The time is short. 2050 is closer than 2000.
The day is coming when all will be revealed. You and I will answer to God, and give an account. If we’re standing strongly on that day, it will be because we’re still standing on the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
Don’t move away from that sure foundation.
Don’t settle for the easy way out.
Don’t cut corners. Matthew 7:24-27.
It’s super easy to define ourselves by what we see in the mirror … by our ancestry or heritage … by our perceived level of education … by our vocation or occupation … by our possessions or stocks or the money we have in the bank … by our ethnicity or reputation or whatever else. It’s easy to compare ourselves to others and either think too much or too little of ourselves. It’s easy to stay stuck in our past sins or regrets or shame.
But, if we’re in Christ, none of that is our true identity. Our true identity is in Jesus Christ. Nothing in this world defines us like Christ.
Maybe 2026 is the year when we’ll finally agree with God about that. If so, may it be a year of tearing down the old so that we can celebrate the new!
After all, because of a bloody cross and an empty tomb, you and I belong – forever and ever – to the living God.
There will be some surprises in the new year. There will be some sadness. There will be some suffering. And there will be some joy! In fact, I pray lots of joy for you!
Our hope isn’t in the new year, but in the Christ who came to make all things new.
So cherish your friends. They’re all irreplaceable. And make some new friends in the new year. You’ll be glad you did. Choose to see God’s goodness in each one.
And remember that the love we feel “for auld lang syne” – as we enjoy and give God praise for our human relationships – merely points to the greatest love.
Pastor Charles
Leave a Reply