A New Year; A Different Time

King Solomon wrote about different events that occur at various times in a person’s lifetime (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). He starts with the two most basic occurrences: “A time to be born,

And a time to die” (3:1). Thus, a person’s birth is inevitably followed by his death. The interval is called a lifetime, provided the baby survives outside his/her mother’s womb.

Each new year is a different time though nothing seems to change. But, for the people living, there are birthdays, graduations, promotions, elections, weddings, relocations, discharges, career changes, retirements, wars, etc. Some are obviously expected; some are not. When they occur, however, these experiences (changes) are keenly felt. When the new year comes, a new time frame begins (365 days) even if some events are repeated.

What’s the point?

Every new year and its different times has been allotted to mankind by God. Each person’s days on earth have been designed specifically for him - “And in your book they all were written (what?), The days (God has) fashioned (“tailored”) for me, When as yet there were none of them” (Ps. 139:16). So, acknowledge each new year as a gift from God and that He will make the time within that year different from the year before.

Our responsibility as believers is to constantly yield ourselves to God’s will and depend on His strength and wisdom as New Years and different times come and go.

Blessings!