2023.  Have you had any trouble remembering to write “2023” instead of “2022” when you write the current date?

2022 is gone.  We can’t undo anything that was done.  Some things we need to remember and take note of lessons learned.  Some things we need to forget.  The Apostle Paul wrote: “Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14 NASB).  Joe Barnett has written, “It’s too late to change your past but not your future.”

We can plan events ahead of time.  We set a date and time for appointments, events, and get-togethers for family and friends.  What kinds of things have you been marking on your calendar?  What we plan for often reflects our priorities.  What are some things we need to schedule in that would better reflect our priorities?

But here’s one thing we all need to remember: a whole new year is not guaranteed.  We are not even guaranteed a tomorrow.  “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil” (James 4:13-16 NIV).

So as we look at our 2023 calendars, let’s focus on today.  We have today; what are we going to do with it?  How are we going to make the most of it?

The greatest thing we can do today is to make sure our lives are right with God.  Sin separates us from God and puts us on the path to destruction (Isaiah 59:1-2; Matthew 7:13-14).  But God loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins so that we can be reconciled to Him and receive the gift of eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 6:23).

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

Let’s plan ahead for some significant events for 2023, but let’s also recognize that TODAY is the most important day of all.  “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV).  May we make the most of today by making sure our lives are right with God.

-- David A. Sargent

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org