Happy New Year ? Goals, yet True Contentment

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances . . .

I can do all things through the Messiah . . .

Who gives me strength and peace.”

Philippians 4:11-13

Another year is upon us all.  It is the time when we assess our lives, set our goals, and often fail to achieve them.  My prayer for you, dear reader, is the same for me; that you and I will have the very best year of our entire lives!

Is this dependent on our circumstances?

The above scripture says that it is not.

I live in a high-rise apartment building of about three hundred residents.  Not too long ago, the entire building had to be evacuated for about five days because it failed a fire marshal inspection after an electrical fire.  The Red Cross promptly came in and bussed those who needed it to an emergency shelter.  The speed of readiness, professionalism, and hospitableness of the undertaking was outstanding.  (About half of the tenants went to friends or relatives, while the other half went to the campus of a local christian college.)

At the university was fresh bedding, television, a clinic, restaurant catered food and live musical entertainment.  I noticed that of the people who were there, about half of them, like I, thought that the services provided were superb, while the other half complained about the very same things that the others were most appreciative of.

Imagine, all you can eat of fresh scrabbled eggs, sausage and biscuits, cereal, juice and milk for breakfast; a boxed lunch with a premium deli catered turkey sandwich thick enough to choke a horse, a can of Coke, Lays potato chips, and a jumbo homemade cookie for the midday meal; homemade lasagna, fresh tossed salad with garlic bread and cake for dessert from a great local Italian eatery for dinner.  One person would eat the food and say “marvelous”, while another would eat the very same meal and say “terrible.”  One person thought that the clinic did an excellent job, while another person ridiculed the same services.  One person delighted in the professional musicians, while another said that they had heard better.

What is it exactly that makes the difference

between the two groups of people?

Is there some sort of conspiracy going on here?

“The fruit of the sinful (lost) nature is. . . complaining . . . anger,

The fruit of the spirit (saved) nature is . . . joy . . . peace.”

Galatians 5:19-23

The difference may simply be

whether or not someone is saved or lost,

right with the Creator in their walk of life,

or not.

Notice this, the next time you are out and about, at the store shopping or at a restaurant, stop for a moment and look around at the people.  You will see some going about, though they may drive a Mercedes and live in a 4000 square foot house, completely miserable, complaining about everything as they make their way, while others, with considerably less financial resources, are smiling and talking with people, laughing with joy and peace of heart.

I challenge you to talk to the latter group, ask them if they are a “believer”, and you will likely find that nine or ten out of ten of truly joyful people are . . . and they truly “walk the walk” of the christian faith.

“You will know people by their fruit . . .

A good (saved) tree can not bear bad fruit . . .

Nor can a bad (unsaved) tree bear good fruit . . .

Not everyone who calls me ‘Savior’ . . .

will enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 7:16-23

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Just because someone claims to be a christian, does not mean that they are one, for in the book of James it says that even demons are believers in God!  (James 2:18-24)  As such, we are to judge by a person’s fruit (actions), not just what they think (“believe”) or say.  If the fruit of the Creator’s spirit is joy (and obviously a person who is truly saved and understands the eternal life promised to them should be joyful), then a person who is unhappy most of the time (not joyful), relentlessly angry, complaining, or unforgiving, can’t really be a christian, and thereby saved, now can they?

It is very simple.

Do you have “Eyes that See“?

(Matthew 13:10-17)

Just as someone who steals is a thief, (it is not a judgment, which is about inner motive, rather merely an observation of their actions), someone who is angry, unhappy, or unforgiving most of the time, is lost and not a christian, because the two above scriptures reveal that a truly saved person is joyful and peaceful.  Remember, according to the above referenced scripture in James, intellectual belief that there is a Divine Creator does not grant salvation, as even the demons believe this too!

Again, the verses say that we are to use our eyes to discern the facts, rather than appearances.  Often, when someone claiming to be a christian is unhappy, angry, unforgiving, or complaining most of the time, it is because of hidden sin.  (Often pride.)  The scriptures say clearly that sin leads to sorrow (Psalm 119:28-29) and that repentance of sin leads to “times of refreshing” (Acts 3:19).  Unrepentant sin leads, of course, to being lost, and thusly leads to unhappiness, anger and complaining, just as living with a clear conscious (in repentance) before the Heavenly Father leads to Joy and Peace.

I make less money now that at anytime in my life, yet I am the happiest I have ever been.  Why?  Because the Father and Son saved me out of my habitual sin, have promised me eternal life, and have granted me the hand of a like-believing partner to share this adventurous, spirit-filled life with.  What more do I need?  I have ample shelter, clothing, food, a great church and a great christian wife.  What more is there to need?  (Only a great Purpose!)

“The Creator opposes the proud (lost) . . .

Yet gives grace to the humble (saved).”

Proverbs 3:34

If we have any goals for the new year, they should be about the growth of our character.  When these objectives are attained, we will find true joy and satisfaction, unlike the temporary comfort of material acquisition.  (One eventually breaks down, while the other lasts eternally!)

Pride (or being lost) is simply the unwillingness to be wrong, just as humility (or being saved) is the willingness to be wrong.  Being converted is not enough, staying converted is what is necessary to take hold of life eternal.  In speaking to the church, Jesus said . . .

“Because of the increase of wickedness,

the love of most will grow cold,

yet the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.”

Matthew 24:12-13

“If we deliberately keep on sinning,

after we have received the Knowledge of Truth,

no Sacrifice for sins is left,

only a fearful expectation of Consuming Fire.”

Hebrews 10:26-27

“GROW in the grace and knowledge of our Savior.”

2^nd Peter 3:18

Once saved, we are to grow in our christian character,

day by day,

year by year.

“Anyone whose heart does not change . . .

and become like a little child . . .

will not enter the Father’s kingdom.”

Matthew 18:3

A child is a learner.

A child does nothing else but grow.

My goals for the year are to become a good husband and to have a healthy temple (body).  Prayerfully, with the Provider’s help, I will take hold of both of these goals.  Attaining spiritual objectives will increase our joy, so all I can say is that if we set them, we better take hold of them like our lives depend on it!

Unless we die in the next twelve months, or the world ends, December 2016 will certainly come.  There are only two possibilities for that hour . . . To look back on 2016 with regret of goal failure . . . Or to look back on the year with satisfaction of goal accomplishment.  Which of the two lives would we rather have?  We might as well go for it, because this is the only life we have at the moment, and 2016 will never happen again for all of eternity . . . and only one of the two possible results will be waiting for us in December of 2016!

Let us stand together on this promise:

“If anyone is in the Messiah, they are a NEW creation;

Old things have passed away;

Behold ALL things have become NEW.”

2^nd Corinthians 5:17

May the Creator’s peace, joy and victory be Ours,

this new year like it has never been before!

–Brother Bart-

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Below is a recording of a Bible discussion which I led on this topic.

Fruits of the Spirit (may take a while to buffer)

Bart Sibrel  is an award winning filmmaker, writer and investigative journalist who has been producing movies and television programs for thirty years. During this time he has owned five production companies, been employed by two of the three major networks and produced films shown on ABC, NBC, CNN, TLC, USA, BET, as well as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. To discuss his films, he has appeared and been interviewed on The Daily Show, Geraldo, NBC, CNN, FOX, Tech TV, Coast to Coast, and The Abrams Report. Articles featuring Mr. Sibrel’s films have been published in Time Magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The L.A. Times, USA Today and many others.  His top awards from the American Motion Picture Society include “Best Cinematography”, “Best Editing” and “Top Ten Director”. As the writer and director of the infamous “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Moon” which exposed the moon landing hoax, Mr. Sibrel has collected over the years innumerous military, government, industrial and private sources for credible firsthand verification of very real conspiratorial crimes against humanity. He will use these contacts and experience in exposing the true and unbelievably horrific intentions of the hidden minority who have diabolical intentions for mankind in his monthly Sleuth Journal column “Conspiracy Corner”.  When such concepts are speculative and unverified, Mr. Sibrel will acknowledge this and openly discuss the leading possibilities as a cautionary benediction. Be sure to visit his site at Sibrel.com and subscribe to his Youtube Channel.

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