"WHO'S AFRAID OF THE NEW YEAR?"
Written and preached by David P. Nolte



JOHN 14:1-6, 27

We are all familiar with the taunt sung by the 3 little pigs as they heckled the big bad wolf. "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf? Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? Tra, la, la, la, la, la!" As they sang, played and danced, they laughed at their foe with brazen courage. I want to paraphrase their song as we face what some consider to be a formidable foe, the New Year 2,003. "Who's afraid of the Next New Year, the Next New Year, the Next New Year? Who's afraid of the Next New Year? Tra, la, la, la, la, la!" Now, I know that there are varied levels of anxiety toward the coming of this new year. I do want to assure you that all our anxieties are groundless, if our relationship with Jesus is sound. To illustrate my sermon this morning I want to tell you about a Christian boy named Kenny. He faced a fearful enemy, a terminal disease. He knew that others had succumbed to this ailment and knew that he was facing probable death. But though he and his parents had some anxiety as they faced what to them was the unknown, they maintained their faith in Jesus Christ and received grace to help in time of need. Jesus does not want our hearts to be filled with apprehension as we face the unknown. He wants our hearts to be stilled, and for us not to be afraid of anything we may face - including the dreaded New Year! So, "Who's afraid of the New Year?"
  1. THOSE WHO TRUST JESUS DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID: V1:
    1. Jesus knew how troubled the hearts of his disciples were; He realized their agitation and spoke the antidote: Believe. That word means to "put confidence in, to rely on and to trust." He directs us to put our trust in God the Father and in Him as well.
    2. Many put their trust in lesser things and people. Particularly in reference to the future things:
      1. Some trust in their bunkers and stockpiled provisions and weapons and like the rich fool in Luke’s Gospel, feel that they can eat, drink and be merry for many days.
      2. Some trust in their bank accounts and feel that as long as they have money and material goods, they have life and security.
      3. Some trust in their own skill and intellect and ability and will endeavor to get by on their own resources.
      4. Some trust in luck and fortune and chance and will turn to godless things like the horoscope and other future-telling devices for counsel and security.
    3. The wise will put their trust in the Lord. M. R. De Haan cites 3 good reasons to do so in his work, "What Can I Do With My Worry?"
      1. God is everywhere. That means that He is with you wherever you are, in any and all situations. He is a very present help in trouble.
      2. God knows everything. That which to us is a mystery is open book to Him. He knows the future as the past and we can trust Him not to be surprised by anything that happens.
      3. God is all powerful. Nothing that happens to us is too great for Him. Jeremiah is right, ""Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." Jeremiah 32:17.
    4. God is alive and active.  Remember when a few semi-scholars decided that "God is dead?"  Well, I saw a bumper sticker that said, "My God isn't dead -- sorry about yours!"  He is alive, He is everywhere, He knows everything, He is all powerful: Therefore, He is able to carry our burdens, to cast out our fear, to keep us and sustain us. God is on the throne and all is well. We can surely iterate the Psalmist's confidence: "In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Psalms 56:11.

Kenny and his family trusted in the Lord, but realizing the seriousness of his condition, he asked, "Mother, does it hurt to die?" With tears in her eyes and praying for the right answer, the wise woman replied, "Kenny, when you were a very little fellow, you often went to sleep on Daddy's bed. But in the morning you always found yourself in your own. Before we retired, your father would come and take you in his strong arms and carry you to your room where you belonged. Death is much like that for those who know Jesus. You go to 'sleep' here, and the Savior who loves you and died for you comes and takes you to your home in Heaven. You will find it a glorious place, Kenny, one especially prepared for you." It is that same hope that gives us assurance as we face the future and its mysteries. So, "Who's afraid of the New Year?"

  1. THOSE WHOSE HOPE IS HEAVEN DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID: VV2, 3:
    1. Some people are so heavenly minded they are no earthly good. That's not what I have in mind here. I'm talking about
      1. What Jesus meant when He said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19 - 21.
      2. What Paul meant when he wrote:
        1. "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; Who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself." Philippians 3:20 - 21.
        2. "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:1 - 3.
    2. If the worst of our fears materializes, still nothing of earth can really harm us if we remember
      1. Where our treasure is.
      2. Where our citizenship is.
      3. Where our hearts and minds belong.
      4. Who is preparing a place for us.
    3. What we need to remember about this world is that it is intentionally temporal. It will pass away, either in the New Year, or sometime after - or perhaps even before it arrives!
      1. Peter taught us: "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:10 - 13.
      2. John wrote: "And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever." 1 John 2:17.
    4. Earth is passing away and will be replaced by a new one. Earth has no sorrow heaven cannot heal! Earth's tears are wiped away in Heaven's eternal joy.

Kenny's mother answered his uncertainty about death with the reminder of heaven. She told him how, when the time came, Jesus Himself would come and take him home. Her answer satisfied the boy, and a few days later without a struggle he went quietly "to sleep" here, resting in the peaceful arms of Jesus. That same calm is a promise to all who believe. So, "Who's afraid of the New Year?"

  1. THOSE WHO KNOW JESUS' PEACE DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID: V27:
    1. His peace is not like that of the world.
      1. The world's peace is fragile, tentative, is external and comes and goes with circumstances.
      2. His peace is perfect, strong, sure, unending and independent of externals.
    2. How do we gain that peace?
      1. First, receive it as a gift He wants to give you. "My peace I give to you."
      2. Then, follow Isaiah's counsel: "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal." Isaiah 26:3, 4.
      3. Finally, practice Paul's prescription for Perfect Peace: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:6 - 9.
    3. We are often like the disciples on that stormy Galilee who cried out, "Master, don't you care if we perish?" But as He spoke peace to the sea, He speaks peace to tempestuous hearts who cry out to Him. 
    4. In the season just past, we celebrated the birth of Him of whom the prophet wrote, "For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6.  Listen: "No Jesus, no peace!  Know Jesus, know peace!"  Where He is, there is peace!  There is no peace apart from Him, but where He rules, peace abides.

This world is passing away. Don't root too deeply into it. Don't invest so much in it that you leave behind what you ought to have sent on ahead. Fasten your hope on what is to come according to His purposes. He is preparing a place for prepared people. The New Year may bring with it all the horrors dooms-day prophets might predict; it may be filled with sorrow and grief and loss. Terrorists may strike again.  War may erupt.  It may be a dismal year!  It may, though, be the best year ever! It may brim with all that you want and hope for!  Surely there will be some "bad" and much good!  It's all the same to Him; He still remains, He still saves, He still keeps. Who's afraid of the New Year? All our expectations about the New Year are pure guesses; better trust our now and our then to Him Who not only knows tomorrow, but holds it, and us, in His hand.

Story from unknown source.


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