“So then each of us will give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12)
Obviously milestones tell us what distance we have travelled – if we care to check. They also are an indication that the further away we are from our point of departure, the closer we are to our destination. 2014 might have seemed like yet another passing year, but not really; it has stamped its footprints in the sands of our lives, influenced the course of events, impacted it - whether positively or negatively, and has drawn us closer towards the exit point of our sojourn on planet earth. We have just clocked another milestone on our journey.
Each year signals that we are progressively heading for the finishing line. Therefore, as we embark on the roadmap we have drawn for this New Year, we must take thought of where it would lead us, as well as how our intermediate plans and projects would assist us in the accomplishment of our goals. At the end of 2015, we must be able to sit down and assess how well or how badly we would have performed in the light of our initial intentions, desires and projections.
Having planned well and not having deviated from our original plan, we should be able to seriously measure the level of success and failure registered. For certain, we would have made some headway whether for the better or for the worse. So therefore, it should be our desire to always seek to make giant plans that, if achieved, we would be certain come from God. Our global objectives should be segmented to take ‘mouthfuls’ one at a time. Whatever it takes, we must tread on.
A new year gives us hope for a fresh outlook, to readjust our travel plans in the light of the obstacles we have encountered and the experiences we have gathered; to stop and repair our ships’ sail or change the tyres of our vehicles. It probably would be the time to give up whatever has proved unfruitful, time-consuming and futile.
Have you taken stock of your life? Are you prepared to reset sail? In what direction would you be heading? In making fresh plans, are you undertaking this journey with God? We need to factor God in our life’s journey. We need his presence to effectively carry out our mission; otherwise, God is not at the centre of it all. Remember, we are not mere accidents in this world, therefore we cannot choose to carry out our own agenda. We are in this world to accomplish God’s purpose for our lives.
By reflecting on the past, we should be able to assess how much fruit we have borne. It keeps us in focus. At the end of his career, the apostle Paul affirmed: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7) We should be able to proclaim this every year in our walk with God. One day, sooner or later we will have to render account of our lives. Why not start doing so now?
You want to succeed in life? Success is spelt fulfilment. We need to ask ourselves how many of the goals set by God for our lives have been fulfilled. In this process, our personal achievements would not count. God will not ask about how many houses we built; how many cars we bought or the number of wives we married; but how many souls were saved and whom we shared the good news with. We would be questioned on how many needy people we ministered to?
As you evaluate your performances this past year, do not let your failures be a cause for frustration to the point that you would want to give up. The apostle Paul admonished: “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)
Make this New Year a reason for re-examining the course you have taken. Set your course well so as to finish well. Be a good finisher! When God told his servant Moses that he would no longer accompany them on the rest of their wilderness journey, Moses’ reaction was that if God refused to, they would not move an inch. “If your Presence does not go with us do not send us up from here.” (Exodus 33:15) God lifted the embargo when he confirmed: “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (verse 14)
Except God charts the course for our lives it will be foolhardy to want to go it alone. That would be recipe for failure and we are bound to go off course. “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)
Let us put God at the centre of our plans this 2015!
