Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - TO KNOW

 TO KNOW

So 2020 is officially over and many people are saying: “Good Riddance”. It has not been the best of years by a long shot. In addition to Covid, and the lives lost because of it, there has also been the hit to the economy and the associated job losses, the mass shooting in Nova Scotia, and the multiple natural disasters that have occurred around the globe. Certainly, not the best 12 months this world has ever seen. 

So now we look forward to 2021. The hope is that it will be better. We now have vaccines for Covid, the economy appears to be doing a bit better, and job losses declining. So far, no great disasters this year but it’s only early. We hope and speculate that things are getting better, but do we really know?

Perhaps it’s time to stop speculating on what may or may not be and concentrate more on what we really do know. We do know that if you’re reading this, you survived last year, but hundreds of thousands of people in North America did not. We know that there has been a trend back to more simple and family oriented activities over the past few months, and perhaps this is more the way it should be all the time 

Moreover, whatever the final outcome of this year, we know who really holds tomorrow. For even if “…we have no power…nor do we know what to do” (2 Chronicles 20:12) ourselves, “…[W]e know that you are true…” (Mark 12:14) and “…we know that You say and teach rightly…” (Luke 20:21).  Furthermore, “…we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

And who are those who are the called according to His purpose? Ephesians 1:11 states “In Him…we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined {called} according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will…” To put it in simple terms, we all have, at one time or another, heard the small voice of conscience calling us and if we have believed and love God, then all things will work together for good. And in the meantime, we will all hopefully avoid any pitfalls or potholes that may come at us. 

We must be concerned but not unduly anxious because we know in the end it will be good. So let us not speculate too much about this year but focus on “…whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate{think} on these things” (Philippians 4:8). 

And in such times as ours, these are certainly the things we should be thinking about.