New Year 2018

It’s election time. The citizens of this country are wondering whom to vote for. But politicians are talking about making agreements. Agreements of convenience, agreements which are selfish, agreements with only one goal – victory.  

The end 2017 and beginning of 2018 gives us an opportunity to re-look at our agreement with God and to renew it. This agreement is our covenant. The covenant we have with God is not temporary. It is not selfish but selfless. It is not one of convenience but one of commitment. One which cannot be broken. Because the covenant we have with our God is one which is signed by the precious blood of Jesus. One which was signed by the making of a sacrifice on a cross.

And so we turn to the scriptures to draw inspiration towards this covenant.

Romans 12:2 Paul is telling the Romans “don’t live according / don’t be conformed to this world”.  The world or age we live in is a society or system created by man. One that will make him happy without God.

The world has its own religion, it has its own lifestyle, it has its own patterns, it has its own ways of thinking, culture and customs, a world full of temptations & evil. A world without morality. It is a temporary world. A passing world. An imperfect world. Such a world makes man to conform to it. The world around man squeezes man into that world. Those who are Christian, when they conform to the world, they are wearing a mask. Paul is saying do not conform into such a world.

This is the challenge that every Christian has. But we can say we have no option. Jesus gives us the answer “be born again” (John 3:3). So ask your selves the question “am I born again in JC?”

Therefore this morning we get another opportunity to be renewed and be transformed. From this world into a world with Jesus, which is the world of the covenant. As you enter into the world of the covenant you need to let go of your old ways, old thinking, attitudes. Because the transformed life is a new life, it is a life that is lived with Christ, it is a life that conforms to Christ and his ways. With such a transformation comes fullness. And that is the life that God wants every believer and follower to live.  

So once you commit and come into a new and renewed life, and you are emptied of all that belongs to the world  you are giving room for (Jer 31:33) God to fill your heart with his law and his words. He does this because he wants the heart and the mind to be clean;;, pure and holy. Because it is what comes out of the heart that makes a man unclean (Mat 15) and an unspiritual mind puffs up a person with idle notions. (Col 2:18). And so God wants the heart and mind of his people to be clean, pure and holy and set apart for him.

When your heart becomes clean, pure and holy and God’s word is inscribed, it becomes a temple for the living God to live in. it becomes a place for the king of kings to live in. Which means God takes the center most place in your life. God takes the highest place in your life. Such persons will not live as those in the world live.

In this renewed life of transformation God says, “I will be their God, and they will be my people’.

So our covenant is between a savior and a saved people. The savior saves you from this world and makes you his. Then you lose ownership of your life. Your life becomes God’s. God becomes your owner. Then there is no “I”, no ego, because God takes the place of the ego. When you become owned by God you will have the mind, characteristics, the attitudes and the ways of God.

So when such a transformation happens God continues to say in Jer 31:34

Now remember how this verse starts. After all ……happens. God wants you to know him. He wants you to seek him, to find him, to be rooted in him.

The problem is today many people don’t know God as he is. They have various different views of God. God is for convenience. So life doesn’t realize fullness. Life is full of problems, there are differences; life lacks happiness, love and peace. And in such situations we see people roaming all over the place going in place of solutions. People God, God is asking you to take a decision tonight. To trust in him. Not to trust in men princess (Ps 118:9). Not to lean on your own understanding (Pr 3:5).  God’s intention is for humanity to regain the lost image of God, to know him, to trust him and to live life to it’s fullness.

Then comes the seal. Jer 31:34c. God’s promise to forgive and to forget. Forgiveness is a gift, is a right that all have received. In a covenantal relationship with God you have to do as he does. Forgive. Forget. Forgiveness is a result of God’s grace.

Forgiveness is the way to living a blessed and holy life in Christ. God forgiving, God forgetting gives man a hope of living life with God.  Sins forgiven and forgotten – what a blessed life it can be. This night we come to God as the tax collector did. In humility. If there is pride like the Pharisee the bible tells us there is will only be a downfall (Pr 18:12).

            People of God through the blood of Jesus we have all come into a new covenant. Today we are here to renew it. Ask ask God to renew our mind, fill our mind and hearts with his law and his words, to forgive and forget that we might continue in our pilgrimage with Christ.

People of God, God wants to live with you, he wants to be in a relationship with you. he wants you to live a clean life. a holy life. Open your hearts to Jesus. Colossians 2:6