2024: Thoughts on the New Year

What are your New Year’s Resolutions? Or didn’t you make any? Why not? Because you have tried before only to give up by February? And now you say, what’s the point? Apparently, that’s what happens to most people. But should we therefore not make good decisions for the future that is ahead of us? We all have a future; we just don’t know what it is and how long it will last. Should we allow negative experience to govern us and determine our future? Or should we, like the wise king of old said, get up again even if we fall seven times? (Proverbs 24:16). One thing is clear: every day in 2024 has 24 hours—what will you do with the time given to you?

When you’re a good person, your steps will be ordered by the Lord and no matter what hits you, God will somehow uphold you. There are ‘bad things that happen to good people,’ it’s a fact of life. In an unjust world, the good guys suffer sometimes. The bad guys seem to triumph—but in the end, things can turn for the better. We cannot give up on that precious hope that good will prevail eventually. That if you have been faithful and have been doing the right thing, everything will work together for good (Romans 8:28) and that even the evil people planned against you will be for your benefit (Genesis 50:20). That even if you fell and things have gone wrong, that you will not be destroyed—God will uphold you! We might be pressed hard, but we are not crushed; perplexed at times, but not despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed! Keep hope alive (see 2 Corinthians 4:8–9).

Remember the Joseph story? Beloved by his father, betrayed by his brothers; sold as a slave, served faithfully yet was accused falsely; he was imprisoned unjustly, yet stayed faithful to his gift and cared for others despite his own suffering; and when his time came, he was released from prison, found entry to the halls of power and was exalted to high places where he served for the welfare of others (see Psalm 105:16–22). He was the key instrument in God’s hand to bring a great salvation to many: provision despite famine. Don’t judge your life by your circumstances, but trust God to work out His purpose according to His word!

In Joseph’s case his suffering and the process he went through was, indeed, ‘a blessing in disguise.’ He was a good man and his steps were ordered by the Lord—although he went through some pretty rough stuff, God didn’t just prevent him from utter destruction, but he became a blessing to many. It’s worth reading that story again (Genesis 37—50). Reading good stories and books is certainly a noble goal for 2024, don’t you think? They inspire and comfort us, and often give us direction in life. How many of the 24 hours a day in 2024 will you give to reading?

Joseph imagined his life differently, yet eventually, despite the ups and downs, God’s promises came to pass—and that’s the important thing in life. We can learn from that. We tend to focus on what happens to us and are quick to complain, perhaps even feel resentment. But we should rather focus on seeing God’s purpose come to pass and endure hard times. Remember, ‘tough times don’t last, but tough people do.’ Things might not get easier, but you can become stronger and wiser. Strength and wisdom are essential; they keep us from resentment and discouragement. We need strength to endure and wisdom to know how to endure it. Cultivate an attitude of humility that brings God’s grace into your life and draw on stories and examples that inspire strength and wisdom.

Consider Job, for example. He didn’t complain about his heavy losses; he continued to trust and worship God. His focus was not so much on what happened to him, but on how he can endure it. The story of Job shows us that God will turn things around and James instructs us to look at the end intended by God (James 5:11). Job had what most people lack: perseverance. The ability to endure hardship and not become bitter and resentful—and never to ‘curse God and die!’—it was foolish advice (Job 2:9ff). Rather, Job did not sin with his words, and was a ‘perfect man’ (Job 1:22; cf., James 3:2). Job didn’t listen to foolish advice and neither should we. Always listen to wise counsel, even if it comes in the form of criticism, but don’t take foolish things as guidance. Have the courage in 2024 to reject foolish counsel.

Turn your pain into prayers and your problems into praise. Turn your trials into opportunities to trust God. He is merciful and compassionate (James 5:11). James encourages us to see trials as ways to become stronger and wiser, to reach maturity and completeness (James 1:2ff). There are things we can only learn during hard times—don’t be afraid! Endure it, keep the right attitude and learn as much as you can. It’s the hard times that prepare us for what is ahead: during these trying times we can learn what we need to learn and become what we need to become!

Life is Short—Use your Time Well

James also reminds us that life is short, but ‘a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away’ (James 4:14). This is not a negative outlook on life or a nihilistic cynicism. It’s an instruction to stay away from becoming arrogant and making plans without God and the reality that life is short. We should approach life with humility and gratitude (James 4:13–16) and do the good we know to do (v 17). Moses wrote of gaining ‘a heart of wisdom’ from God by the realisation that life is short.

In an action movie, the bad guys would utter the threat that ‘your days are numbered,’ i.e., ‘you’ll die soon and we’ll kill you!’ The biblical instruction is not a threat. God is not threatening us that we’ll die soon, but He wants us to realise that life has only a certain number of years, days and hours, and we should live life in a good way. The Lawgiver (James 4:12) is also the Judge (James 5:9) and should be wise and not foolish. The biblical instruction is a call to wisdom: to number our days in order to gain wisdom, not to live in fear or panic. People are often driven by the fear of death, which is removed for those who believe in Christ (Hebrews 2:14). Other people don’t really care about death (until they get close to it!), and they just want to live life. Their slogan is, ‘you only live once,’ so you might as well gain whatever you can from it. And yes, life is for living—but how do we live life? How do we plan life and how do we respond to life’s struggles? These are the important questions. We not only ‘live once,’ we also ‘die once,’ and then eternity starts. That’s worth a thought and some reflections.

Paul instructs us to redeem the time—not to waste time but to make the most of it—and he says so because ‘the days are evil’ (Ephesians 5:15). Paul, therefore, encourages us to walk in the light, that is, in God’s will and the brightness of His holiness (v 17), and not in the works of sin and darkness (vv 11–13). Wisdom is crucial; foolishness can be costly if not lethal (v 15). Seek God’s will and way and all things will work out and be provided for (Matthew 6:25–34). In evil days it is even more essential for the righteous to shine. Martin Luther King Jr. pointed this out: the stars are seen best when the sky is the darkest. Don’t be afraid of the darkness around you—shine God’s light in despite of it, or because of it! The world needs more light and love and goodness.

Although our circumstances all differ, there is one thing that we all have in common in 2024: our days have 24 hours. In 2024 use each and every 24 hours given to you. 5 days have already passed in 2024, but you still have 360 days left! That’s 8640 hours this year—use them well. Plan, yes, but within God’s will and humility towards the Almighty. The arrogance of independence from the Divine leads to failure; falling into the ‘pride of life’ leads to destruction, but those who do the will of God will endure forever (1 John 2:15–17). Whatever you do with your 24 hours a day, make sure it’s time well spent by doing good to others, serving God’s other children, but also making sure you are well and healthy. You’re no good to anyone when you are frustrated and grumpy, weak and resentful. Only light can cast out darkness, only love can expel hate and only happiness can bring joy and comfort to those who mourn. Love what God loves, do what God wants you to do, and pursue the future He has planned for you.

While some people dream of seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Empire State Building in New York or go to Dubai to ‘do-buy,’ others have a whole pile of books they want to read. What are your plans?

I was in Paris once, planning to see the Eiffel Tower on a taxi ride: but when we drove passed it, I saw a man on the ground having a heart-attack: I couldn’t get my eyes off him and my heart went out to him—I saw none of the Eiffel Tower, and I don’t regret it (I saw it in Rush Hour 3 with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker fighting the bad guys up there…) I was in New York once, and saw the Empire State Building—well, only a small part of it, as it was a cloudy day. But I saw King Kong in the movie climb it only to be shot down. But I do remember something from New York as a 13-yearold: a Black homeless woman sleeping on a cardboard box in the bus station. I never forgot her and kept wondering what I could do to help such vulnerable people who have been hit hard by life. I saw Dubai from the airplane (and on Facebook)—that will do. I was on the way to Zambia to help vulnerable children—time and money well spent. How will you spend your time and money in 2024? Use it well, use it wisely.

Life is short, make it worthwhile.