To the Editor:

A new year causes people to re-examine themselves and their priorities. Most have regrets about what they did or didn’t do. We can’t alter our past but we can put our past on the altar and give Jesus control of our lives and change our future. We need to learn from the past but not stay in the past. Bill Vaughn said, “An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” Unless people change and revival comes I have pessimism about the new year. People resolve every New Year’s to become a better person. There’s only one way to become better and that’s to put our trust in and surrender our lives to Jesus. Jesus helps us become a better person by changing our priorities and improving our thoughts and attitudes. Once Jesus is our Savior the Holy Spirit helps us to have the right desires and attitudes called the fruit of the Spirit. These by-products of living for Jesus and not self are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.

The Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” C.S. Lewis said, “The central Christian belief is that Jesus’ death has somehow put us right with God and given us a fresh start.” The new year will not give you a fresh start; only Jesus can do that. Without Jesus in our life, welcome to a bleak new year and the most horrifying eternity possible.

The late preacher R.G. Lee said, “there will be a payday someday.” I predict this new decade will see God’s judgment (payday) on America and the world during the seven year tribulation. In the tribulation billions will die. Dr Thomas Horn at www.skywatchtv.comsays the asteroid predicted to hit earth during the tribulation will hit the California area on April 13, 2029. Our government disagrees that it will hit, but did start a space command to deal with asteroids. The Bible says, “Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” The increasing earthquakes and disasters are judgment from God, a call to repent and signs of the soon return of Jesus. The prospects for America are shaky and America is living on borrowed time, and so are you. Don’t delay accepting, believing and confessing Jesus as your only savior. Only Jesus can deliver each of us and America from the wrath to come!

God hasn’t promised us there will be a 2021, at least not for us. So we should spend 2020 living a life that is pleasing to Jesus, a life that will have meaning long after our own obituaries in the Elizabethton Star have faded away. So be ready for the return of Jesus by getting forgiveness from Jesus and forgiving others and attending church at every opportunity in 2020. Whatever happens Jesus is the best comfort in changing times and the only way to be ready for heaven and begin anew in 2020. We can take comfort in that although we are changing and the year and decade is changing, God is not changing. This is a new year and new decade but we still serve the same almighty God! Our faith could become sight and Christians could see Jesus clearly 20/20 in the year 2020!

D.D. Nave

Elizabethton