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Twenty Twenty-One

The year 2020 has just passed. Words like “unprecedented, uncharted waters, nothing like this” were heard many times. Other words we remember, “pandemic, social distancing, mask, sanitizer, together, fear, losses, death and hopelessness.” The virus pandemic has wreaked havoc not just in the economy and lives of one country but in almost every part of the world. Millions have been affected as many lost lives, businesses and jobs.  These verses in the Holy Bible were heard a lot this year:

“Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Many have prayed and quoted Psalm 91

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the ^[a]fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
⁴ He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
⁵ You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

It is needless to reiterate the many negative effects of this pandemic, but we would like to encourage you to focus on the hope we have as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. In spite of the pandemic not all the news has been negative. For example, listener response to FEBC’s broadcasts has skyrocketed. Even here in the USA, we have heard that more people have been open to the Gospel and spiritual things.

Genesis 50:20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

And Romans 8:28 says, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 

For this new year 2021, we can look forward to a new hope. Actually, a new decade has begun, 2020-2029. For others who are hopeful and filled with faith, they call this the beginning of a new era. We may not have the capacity to predict or know the future, however, we know Who holds the future.

Isaiah 43: 18-19 says,

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?  I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

It’s not to have faith in faith or to have positive thinking, but to have faith in the One who holds the future, who is All-Knowing and All powerful, Sovereign God, who is the God of heaven, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15: 13