New Years Resolutions- the Biggest and Best One You Could Have

"Oh boy, a new year, and a new opportunity to prove I'm not the awful mess people think I am."

New Years day is the biggest time of the year when people determine to change their lives, turn over a new leaf, or start a new diet or fad. It's a great time of feeling a fresh start, and an awesome motivation.

I find it rather amazing and bizarre to read or hear about some people's New Years resolutions, but the thing that amazes me most, is to see that people are making all the resolutions and plan to carry them out in their own strength. And we wonder why these resolutions never last all year!

I guess the most important New Year resolution I have ever heard of or seen is the resolution to give our life to God, and change our lives by serving Him in this next year. This is the most radical and lasting change anyone can have in their lives, and the formula for doing it is simple!

Many people would not admit they have sin, because in reality, they have never done anything "really bad". They have not murdered anyone, or stolen anything. Being a good, moral person really combats the need a sinner would have for a Saviour. But let's dig a little deeper using the Ten Commandments from God's Word. We'll call it "The Good Person Test". Are you really a good person? (I took this test myself, and the results would surprise you.)

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." Have you ever used God or Jesus as a curse word or even just an idle word of discouragement or excitement? I find that all I have to do is just walk into a store and I'll hear either God or Jesus' name used in an idle/vain form. Everyone does it, but according to this commandment, it's sin. Have you ever done this?

"Thou shalt not steal." I know that most of you probably have never stolen anything from a store or something, but this includes anything you have ever stolen in your LIFE. I was caught with this one, because I remember stealing change off my parents dresser, and stealing my dad's knife out of his tackle box, and telling him I had found it. So, have you ever stolen anything. I had to say "guilty" on this one.

"Thou shalt not commit adultery." Okay, I know that many of us have never commited raw adultery, but in the New Testament this verse states, "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."(Matt 5:28) Have you ever looked at someone of the opposite gender and lusted in your heart? The Bible calls this adultery. I never would classify myself in this group, but the Lord showed me that I was unconsciously lusting after men in movies that I watched. Talk about an eye-opener! Needless to say, I was guilty on this one also.

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." Put in plain English, "thou shalt not lie." Have you ever lied? Honestly, who can say they haven't? This was my biggest problem growing up, and I still struggle with telling the truth at times.

I know that by now, you would have had to say "guilty" for one of these, and this was just four of the Commandments, there are still six we haven't covered yet! I guess we'd be in trouble wouldn't we?

Now, for those of us who think you have to be good to get to heaven or to have a relationship with God, what do we do now? God knows our past, present, and future, and as the Bible says, anyone with sin cannot enter into the gates of heaven.

Thankfully, God does not leave us there, but sent Jesus, His Son, to redeem us from our sins.

Think of it this way, we know we have sin in our life, so let's say we went before a judge in a courtroom for our sins. We have been proven guilty, and really, there's nothing we can say. The sentence is clear, "For the wages of sin is death" the price we have to pay for our sins is the death penalty, but the judge gives us another option. Our glimmer of hope crumbles as he names a phenomenal price that we could pay, in order to be relieved of our sentence. The staggering figure only makes us feel more wretched. There is now way in heaven or earth we could pay that amount, so our fate is sealed. We are doomed to our consequences.

Suddenly, from the back of the room comes this man we've never seen before. He walks straight up to the judge, and says, "I know and love this person, and I want to pay their fine so they can go free, if they will allow me." Imagine the relief, the gratitude we would have for that man. Of course we would jump to accept the offer!

Jesus does the same for us. Because of our sin, we are doomed to an eternal hell, but Jesus came down to earth and died to pay that price, the price of death, for our sins. He did it for us, even though we didn't know him. But there is the condition that we allow Him to take our sins, and wash us white as snow. He is ready and willing to cleanse our life of sin, but we must allow Him to do so.

It's simple, an easy thing to do, but after we accept that gift, what do you think should happen? Back to the courtroom.

The man has paid our debt, and we are now free to leave, but do you think we'd just walk out, and not think of the man again? No! We would go to the man and express our deepest, heartfelt thanks, and wonder if we could do anything for him. What would you say, if He said all he wanted was for you to turn away from your old sinful life and live in a constant friendship with Him? What a small thing to ask for such a great thing He did for us!

Jesus asks the same thing. All He asks is that we repent, we turn away from our sinful life, and live a life of friendship with Him. Read His Word, pray, and follow Him wherever He leads us.

If we turn to Christ with our whole heart and life, the most lasting, drastic change, much better than any New Year's resolution, will take place in our life. Oh, friends, will you please consider this, and accept Christ as your Lord and Savior?