Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Jan/72

Contributor - Justin Vanderkolk

Title - At the Gate of the New Year

Topic - New Year's

What's new? We call "Happy New Year" to one another but what is really new about it? We write 1972 on the date line instead of 1971; does that actually make a difference?

"The sun rises and the sun goes down; back it returns to its place and rises there again. The wind blows south, the wind blows north, round and round it goes and returns full circle . . . What has happened will happen again and what has been done will be done again and there's nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, 'Look this is new'? No, it has already existed long before our time." (Eccles. 1 : 5-6; 9-10 - New English Bible.)

What the world-weary Preacher has said makes sense to a lot of people today! Life is a merrygo-round. One gets off where one got on. "And the dust returns to the earth as it was and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity". (Eccles. 12 : 7-8 R.S.V.)

Alongside of this despairing word of the Preacher let us place the utterance of Jesus Christ: "I came to cast fire upon the earth" (Luke 12 : 49), and the announcement with which he began his public ministry: "The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel" (Mark 1 : 14-15). This is different kind of talk. The Preacher's talk turns me off but the speech of Jesus turns me on.

What's new? The possibility that the life of Jesus Christ which is planted in the soil of history will sprout and grow and bear fruit in our generation. That's new and it's news! The possibility that the fire he casts upon the earth will break out again in our generation. That's news! The possibility that the dead may be raised. That's news!

"Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies it bears much fruit" (John 12 : 24). It can never again be "business as usual". Paul has a word for us: "You know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep . . . the night is far gone. The day is at hand" (Rom. 13 : llf).

Jesus faulted the people of his day for their insensitivity. "When you see a cloud arising in the west you say at once: 'A shower is coming' and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say "there will be scorching heat" and so it happens. You hypocrites. You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?" (Luke 12 : 54-56). What is God doing in contemporary history? Where do we meet him in 1972?

Where do we find the Kingdom of God on earth today? We're not the first to ask this question but we are perhaps harder to convince. Less sensitive perhaps? Jesus said "The Kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, "Lo, here it is" or "there" for behold, the Kingdom of God is in the midst of you" (Luke 17 : 20). The reign of God is not an economic empire or a political realm. The reign of God is the reign of sovereign love and love is something that happens between people. Love does not make loud noises. "It is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude" (1 Cor. 13 : 4f). Where love is at work, silently but powerfully, there the Kingdom is also. Jesus said: "If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you" (Mt. 12 : 28).

The people of Jesus' day asked him for signs, something spectacular to convince them that the new age had come. Jesus said: "I am the sign. What I speak, What I do, what I am - that is the sign." The enduring sign he will leave behind is the cross. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whoever believes in him may have eternal live" (John 3 : 14).

For us also in 1972 no sign except the sign of the Cross convicting us of sin, offering us forgiveness, compelling us to think, capturing us for the Kingdom and so giving us our freedom. No sign but the sign of conquering love: "And I,, when I am lifted up will draw all men to myself" (John 12 : 32).

What's new? My life is new because it is companioned by the Risen Christ.

What's new? My world is new. I'm off the merry-go-round. I'm on the King's highway swinging along to the rhythms of his music.

What's new? My consciousness is new. I have a song that sings in my heart. I have heard Christ say: "You are my friend if you do what I command you" (John 15 : 14). I have a vision: "The Kingdom of this world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign forever and ever" (Rom. 12 : 15).

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