Times Of Swaziland: PRESS ON, FEAR NOT!

PRESS ON, FEAR NOT!
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The Editor on 12/01/2018 00:33:00


Sir,
“I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are
ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ
Jesus,” Phil. 3:12-14. The aforementioned Bible passage is rich with meaning
as we are at the beginning of a new year.
As another year has come to an end, it is very healthy to reflect upon the good
times, to remember lessons learned from the more difficult times, to clear up
any misunderstandings with others, offering and receiving forgiveness freely,
then setting the old year into the past as we move into the future. Let’s
forget our worries, our fears, our failures and our defeats. Let us lay aside
even the accomplishments of the past year, the good things we think we have
done, all the things we brag about, all the medals and honors and all the
awards. Whatever happened in 2017, you’ve got to let it go. As long as we’re
looking back, we can’t move forward.
More good counsel on this point is found in Hebrews 12:1, 2: “ . . . let us
lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run
with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God.”
These texts have one thing in common; they point us to Jesus; the author and
finisher of our faith. It is by looking to Him that we are able to set aside
every weight, leave the past behind, and move ahead with confidence and
endurance. No one can say with certainty what the new year will bring or if we
will even be here 12 months from now.  But that thought should not alarm us in
any way. To all our worries the Lord says quite simply:
“Fear not.”
Will things get worse? Fear not.
Will I lose my health? Fear not.
Will I keep my job? Fear not.
Will my loved ones undergo hardship? Fear not.
Will my investments collapse? Fear not.
Will I run out of money this year? Fear not.
Will tragedy strike in my family? Fear not.
Will my children disappoint me? Fear not.
Will others ridicule my faith? Fear not. Will my cherished plans come to
nothing? Fear not.
Will my dreams turn to ashes? Fear not.
We as Christians ought to be optimistic as we are in this new year. We have a
great future because we have a great God. We might not know what the future
holds but we know who holds the future. So we launch out with great faith into
this new year. We’ll have our share of hard times, but overriding it all is
the promise of God who said, “I will never leave you or forsake you,” Heb.
13:5.
Bopoto Gwinyai
(7663 8191)