A Blank Page For A New Year
A new year always feels like a fresh page—clean, open, and full of possibility. It’s an exciting time. We often think we get bored with doing the same things, but the truth is we gladly repeat the things we enjoy. The enjoyment comes from the fruit of what we do. As long as something brings fulfillment, pleasure, or meaningful results, we don’t mind doing it again and again.
In ministry, this creates an interesting dynamic. For those who belong to Christ, the “same things”of praying, reading and studying the Bible, witnessing, and gathering at church—remain deeply fulfilling when God blesses with His approval and when we see a favorable response in others.
But if we go through these motions without a real relationship with God, we become bored and weary instead of refreshed and encouraged. And if our service to God depends on the choices others make, we will inevitably face discouragement when people do not respond the way we hope.
The lesson to learn from this insight is that we need to focus on God and our relationship with Him and serve Him regardless of what others choose to do.
We Serve A God Of Newness
Regarding new things, from our perspective, we are people of the New Covenant, the New Birth, the New Life, and New Mission fields. The phrase from 2 Corinthians 5:17 comes to mind, “Behold all things are become new.” In addition to these new things, we are also looking forward to the ultimate newness God has promised.
In Revelation 21:1, John says, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.”
But after a year of being saved and hearing all these things, they are not new anymore. Is that a problem?
Nothing New To God
This is not a problem from God’s perspective. All of these things we call new are eternally old to God. This promise of a new heaven and new earth is not a change in God’s plan—it is the fulfillment of it. For Christians, all this newness is not God doing something different; it is God continuing what He has always been doing and has intended since eternity past.
What feels new to us is eternally old to Him. Our “fresh start” is simply us catching up to His timeless purpose. There is nothing new to God
Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be… and there is no new thing under the sun.”
There is no new start for God because there is nothing to improve. He can’t get better and nothing can happen that He has not already seen. His purpose has existed from eternity past and cannot be improved.
And once we plug in with God, we continue His ways that are eternally old and cannot be improved.
New Person
From God’s perspective, our newness is not innovation—it is restoration. New life in Christ, being born again, is God restoring us to what He always intended—that we would be His children, fully aligned with His will, living out His purpose and enjoying blessings abundantly from Him.
New Mission
Once we are established in this newness in Christ, our new mission in life becomes clear. 2 Corinthians 5:18 states: “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.”
We are called to help others discover the same restoration, the same identity, the same life‑changing newness we have received. Newness in our lives is not meant to be kept—it is meant to be shared.
Just as new babies are born into the world, new churches are born as established churches continue to fulfill their mission. And this year, God has placed several mission opportunities before us.
New Missions
We have three mission points to tend to: Ecuador, Canada, and assisting Juan Ariellno. We are surrounded by lost souls who need to hear how to be born again. We are surrounded by Christians who need to learn how to be disciples; and we have opportunities to start new mission works.
New Ministries
This year brings new ministry efforts as well. Personally, I am conducting a new, six‑week discipleship class beginning January 15. In addition, I am launching a new creation science email course to equip Christians with answers to forty‑nine questions. This is the product of preparing believers in Colorado for an upcoming creation conference, but it is available to strengthen everyone in their witness in order to fulfill the admonition of 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”
New Believers
I am also looking forward to discipling new believers on campus. A few students and I are beginning a new semester meeting with new disciples. In addition, there is long distance “discipleship” taking place in other towns and countries. These are just a few examples of the new things happening in my life—but this is how newness begins. I am doing the same things that have always been done—with new people in new places with new resources. And this is how new things can happen in your life too.
Renewed Vision
If each of us takes on the mission Christ has given us, we can explode with newness—not by abandoning the old, but by implementing the old ways in new people, places, and resources. And most often, simply doing something for Christ becomes something new, especially if we have been doing nothing.
New Attitude
So, let’s get rid of the negativity, the complaints, the fears, and the wringing of the hands. Looking to Christ is looking forward into newness all the time. Learn to think in ways that build bridges rather than burn them. Looking to Christ is about hope and renewal. Looking at self and circumstances is about pessimism and entrenchment.
Let Christ change our hearts and give us a new perspective—a new outlook that builds new souls, new disciples, new mission points, and new churches.
A new year, a new mission, a new beginning in Christ—this is not just our theme. It is our calling. Share the newness. Share the restoration. Walk in the good works God has already prepared for you to do since eternity past.
When we walk in the old ways of Christ, we will continually be renewed and bring newness to others.
How To Be Renewed And Refreshed
To be perpetually renewed and refreshed, remember two things:
- Focus on God and your relationship with Him.
- Do the things that God says always work and cannot be improved.