2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

While we do not know the actual date of Christ’s birth, perhaps it is a good thing that we celebrate that memory a week before the New Year. When Christ comes into our lives, all things become new. It is this week that we ponder the past year in review, remembering those who have passed on during this year.

This new life in Christ has the promise of a hope which we can look forward to discovering.

2 Corinthians 3:11:12a For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. Seeing then that we have such hope, …

In honesty we left a life we thought at one time to be good but having come to a knowledge of who Christ is and all that He has done for us, left that life behind. We choose to do that for the hope of glory to come. Not that we possess it instantly, but are possessed by it and have a hope that it will shine forth, maybe not today, but soon.

Matthew 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Granted this year did not bring me the full promise, but the hope is still within me because some of that hope has been made known this year.

Psalm 27:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

His word has been true.