Village Schools of the Bible

A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION
...that will achieve results!
by Max Frazier, Jr.

At this time of year, many people make New Year's resolutions. Just what exactly is a resolution? Webster gives two definitions: 1) an act of converting, process of being transformed; conversion into something different; transformation, substitution; and 2) act of resolving, determining, deciding. Therefore, a resolution involves decision-making. It revolves around a conscious choice.

Some possible New Year's resolutions might include: making more money; getting more sleep; getting out of debt; spending more time with the family; or spending more time reading the Bible and praying. I have always been challenged by the New Year's resolution of the great preacher Jonathan Edwards. He said, "Resolved, to live with all my might while I do live; Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, but improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can; Resolved, never to do anything which I should despise or think meanly of in another; Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge; Resolved, never to do anything which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life." Now, that is a resolution!

Why are resolutions good to make? First, they cause self-examination. They can point out our weaknesses. It seems that most resolutions focus on those areas in our lives where we need some help, some encouragement, some challenge. Second, they cause upward reflection as we realize that only God can help us. Finally, they can change our outward behavior.

What are the ingredient of an unfailing resolution?

Dissatisfaction with our Christian life: Philippians 3:12-13a

In a recent survey taken among Christians, nearly 1/2 indicated that their Christian life was leveling off. That is very dangerous. Many of the evangelistic tools begin with a question similar to the following: “Are you really satisfied with your Christian experience? Do you feel that there might be something more that you are missing?"

Paul was never satisfied with his spiritual achievements. But many Christians are self-satisfied because they compare their running with that of other Christians. "I may not have done much for the Lord this past year, but I pride myself there was someone who did less than I did." You know something, if Paul had done that he could have boasted with pride. But Paul did not compare himself with others. He compared himself with Jesus Christ.

Beware of having a false estimate of your spiritual condition. Listen to this description of the church at Sardis in Revelation 3:1, "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, says this: I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, and you are dead." Here was a church with a reputation without any reality.

What about the church at Laodicea in Revelation 3:17? There we read these words: "Because you say, 'I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,' and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked." Here was another church with form but no substance.

How about Samson, as recorded for us following his little escapade with Delilah, "And she said, 'The Philistines are upon you, Samson.' And he awoke from his sleep and said, 'I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.' But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him." (Judges 16:20). Here was a man from whom the power of God was withdrawn from his life and he did not even know it.

Let me share one more example with you. This is also from Revelation 2 and concerns the church at Smyrna: "I know your tribulation and your poverty but you are rich..." Here was a church that thought itself poor, but it really was rich in God. This kind of negative thinking is just as wrong. "We are too small." "We don't have the resources." "We just can't trust God."

A Christian should never be satisfied with his or her life. The Christian life is a growing life. There is always something more to learn and to discover. That is one of the great blessings of the Village School ministry. There is always something more to learn from a study in God's Word.

The Forgetting of Your Past: Philippians 3:13

What does the word "forget" mean? It does not mean to blot from our memory. This is what you do with a computer. Press the delete key and the materials instantly vaporize into that great space where all those little bleeps go. The word "forget" does mean to no longer be influenced by or intimidated by the past.

Paul longed to forget the achievements of the past. Paul did not want to rest on his laurels, and they were many. Just read verses 3-6 of this chapter and you will be amazed at what Paul had been in the past. Few men had these laurels. Also, look at the string of churches which Paul had established.

It is so easy for us to retire and let others do the running. Paul never retired from the Christian life. Paul stayed in the race until Jesus brought him to Himself. Friends, there is always something more for us: another book to read, another task to do, another person with whom to talk.

Paul longed to forget the mistakes of the past. Paul did not want to quit because of the failures. There was the persecution of the church which he personally led for many months. There was the martyrdom of Stephen in which he personally participated. There was the conflict with his good friend Barnabas over John Mark. Many Christians quit because of past failures.

The Koreans have a curious New Year's custom. Desiring to forget unpleasant things and to make a fresh start, each person determines what bad habits he would like to eliminate and what past deeds he wants forgiven. Then he writes the names of these evils on a kite and flies it high into the air, when it is almost out of sight, he cuts the string. As the "paper bird" takes a nose-dive and disappears from sight, he thinks that all his faults and previous transgressions are forever removed.

Paul learned from his past, but did not let his past affect his present or future living for Jesus.

Pressing Toward Your Goal: Philippians 3:13

Paul's focus was on what Christ would do with the future. His goal was Christ. Paul stretched forward and ran "flat out" toward that goal.

The problem today is that too many Christians have the wrong goal. If a man sets up an external standard for his conduct, then he measures himself by those he associated with. He is easily satisfied and feels he has attained what God wanted. It is kind of "when in Rome do as the Romans do."

People in Philippi were all doing the same things. They were all going to the same places. They were all conducting themselves by the same standards. As a result, there was complacency and self-satisfaction.

Paul's standard is the standard God set for him. Let's read again verse 12: Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Paul says he wanted to overextend himself so he might accomplish the purpose that Christ had for him when He called him.

Paul had written to the Galatians these words, But when He who had set me apart, even from my mother's womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood... (Galatians 1:15-16) God's purpose was to use Paul as a channel through which God might reveal Himself to others. And Paul's goal was to please the Lord Jesus Christ.

We have not attained the goal until Christ Jesus is perfectly formed in us. There is no room for carelessness. There is no room for laziness. There is no room for indifference. I want to share a little poem which really packs a punch. It is entitled, "All I Meant to Do."

Said yesterday to tomorrow: "When I was young like you,
I, too, was fond of boasting of all I meant to do.
But while I fell a-dreaming along the pleasant way,
Before I scarcely knew it, I found I was today.
"And as today, so quickly my little course was run,
I had not time to finish one-half the things begun.
Would I could try it over, but I can ne're go back;
A yesterday forever, I now must be, alack!
"And so, good tomorrow, if you would make a name
That history shall cherish upon its roll of fame,
Be all prepared and ready your noblest part to play
In those new fleeting hours when you shall be today."

Conclusion

I like those words to the chorus: To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus, all I ask to be like Him...All through life's journey from earth to glory, all I ask to be like Him.

One of my favorite American preachers of the past is John Henry Jowett. God also used him mightily in England. The following is what Jowett proclaimed about his desires and confidence for the New Year: It is not mine to worry about the coming day, but to fill the immediate moment with radiant duty. My Lord is the Pioneer, the great Maker of roads, and He will see to the appointments and provisions of the way. He has His scouts, His advance guard, opening the highways across the waste. "I will send My angel before thee," He says. Yes, the Lord will look after the road.

We certainly do not know what lies before us as we enter into a new century and a new millennium. But, of this I am confident, Christ is still the Lord of the roadway. He is still the One who will guide and direct our lives if we allow Him.

As we enter a new year,
may the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi become ours:

"Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
Not so much to be understood as
To understand;
Not so much to be loved
As to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying that we awaken to eternal life."

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