This week the entire world breathed a sigh of relief as we welcome in a new year. Everyone was ready and excited to put the chaotic mess of 2024 behind us. People are ready put their differences behind them, politically, spiritually, and culturally.
That is part of the lure and beauty of a new year. Most people around the world have hopeful expectations for 2025.
- Better health
- Better finances
- New relationships
- Enjoy life more
At the beginning of the year, everyone is full of hope and optimism. Perhaps that is why we want to put broken relationships and dreams behind us. Many people are hoping to change jobs. Others will seek a new life by relocating to a new post.
An old Georgia preacher once said, “This world is the closest to heaven the lost will ever get, yet it is the closest to Hell the saved will ever get. For some, they want America to return to God and start over” (1 John 2:19).
How to Return
Returning to someone or something is a choice and a process that takes time, each of us must choose which way we will live (Romans 12:2.) Return is defined as, “To go back or come back again; to go back in thought or practice.”
Returning takes a lot of work that is why most of us begin the year with new resolutions and goals, we want to make a change for the better in our life.
There is a spiritual aspect to returning, like the prodigal son we realize the errors of our ways and long to return back home. The Bible teaches God’s people to turn from their selfish ways and desires so they can return to God (Romans 12:3, Philippians 2:3, Colossians 3:5.)
Despite what many Christians would like to believe, we can’t practice the dark ways of the world and live in the light of God (2 Corinthians 6:14.)
Satan, our hearts, and this world lead us away from God and we each need to find our way back to God (Romans 3:23, 1 Peter 2:25.) That is why a lot of people want to return to their faith in the new year.
Repentance leads us to self-denial and sacrifice for God (Acts 3:19, 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, 2 Timothy 2:25, 2 Peter 3:9. The apostles remembered their Jewish education on repentance and returning.
Tᵊšûḇâ
God’s plan all along was to set His people apart from the world and use them to draw the world back to Himself and the light (Leviticus 19:2, Deuteronomy 7:6.) However, even God’s people struggled with turning from their selfish ways to God and His ways (Psalm 23:1-6, Isaiah 53:6.)
Return to God is crucial in Judaism. This is how God’s people are separated from the darkness and the ways of the fallen world. God’s people had to return to God.
The Hebrew word for return in the Old Testament is “tᵊšûḇâ,” and it can also mean, “Completion of a year, reoccurrence, answer, or reply,” depending on the context it is used in. In Jewish discipleship, tᵊšûḇâ is a process for returning to the following God:
- Reject
- Confess
- Make amends
- Resolve
Tᵊšûḇâ requires denying self and returning to God. Self-denial is a basic teachings of Jesus to His followers (Matthew 16:24, Luke 9:23.) Dying to self isn’t an option for the people of God, anyone who says so isn’t teaching Christianity.
Jesus taught His followers that they had to die and be born again to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:1-7.) Jewish disciples left their homes and their old lives to follow and live with their rabbi. Jewish discipleship means a new way of living and letting go of the old life and ways we once followed.
Death is part of being made new and experiencing eternal life (Galatians 2:20; 5:24.) We will all die at least once in life (Hebrews 9: 27.)
Jimmy Carter
Just days before the new year former president Jimmy Carter died at the age of 100 years, few people live to see a century of life on this planet, but I can assure you Jimmy Carter the man died decades ago.
Living in Georgia and only a few hours away from Pres. Carter’s hometown, I am more familiar with this man of faith, than I am of his presidency. Pres. Carter’s legacy isn’t what he did or didn’t accomplish while in office, it is his life of service and sacrifice after leaving the White House.
Unlike most presidents today, he didn’t abuse his position or power to live a lavish earthly lifestyle pampered by servants and the luxuries of this world. Mr. Carter lived a humble life in his hometown where he not only served his community but also showed others have to be servants and put others first.
Like most people, I disagreed with Jimmy Carter politically, but, spiritually and socially I admire his work and service to his community and the greater world stage. Jimmy Carter didn’t let earthly success lead him astray from his Christian faith and beliefs.
He even spent decades serving in the church teaching others the ways of God versus the ways of this corrupt world. He sought the good for others over the good for himself.
- Love
- Forgiving
- Serving
Jimmy Carter understood there is only one way to God and true greatness; he didn’t try to manipulate God to achieve greatness. President Carter demonstrated how to serve God by serving others (Matthew 25:31-46.)
Jesus taught His followers to love God and love their neighbors, that is how we become Christlike, not by living like the world (Matthew 22:37-39.) The path back to God and greatness are the same, and they don’t take us through the ways of this world. Jimmy Carter lived a life of service and tᵊšûḇâ!
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