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To the Editor:

A new year often causes people to re-examine themselves and their goals. Most have regrets about what they did or didn’t do in the past. We can’t alter the past but we can put the past on the altar and give Jesus complete control of our lives. Many make New Year’s resolutions. Some of the best resolutions are to forgive everyone that hurt you and to attend church at every opportunity. Most will fail to change, to break bad habits, or to develop new good habits. Only Jesus and the Holy Spirit can create lasting positive change in us. The moment you believe and receive Jesus and let Him control your life the Holy Spirit produces love, joy and peace in you and helps you live a life you thought was impossible to live. “Therefore if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5) 

C.S. Lewis said, “The central Christian belief is 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 your life, welcome to a bleak new year and the most horrifying eternity possible. We must pray for a genuine nationwide Christian revival in which the Holy Spirit would change people’s attitudes and motivations. Without revival God’s great judgment on America will come. America is number one in the world for trafficking and abusing children. America is number one in the world for illegal drug use and for buying porn. As the late preacher R.G. Lee said, there will be a “payday someday!” Only Jesus can deliver each of us and America from the wrath to come!

Many are afraid of what the new year may bring. The year 2024 was the worst year for disasters in American history with a record breaking 24 different billion dollar weather disasters. Elizabethton shared in the Hurricane Helene disaster. Some say the TVA release of water with little notice did the most damage to Elizabethton. This should be investigated and if true, TVA should reimburse Elizabethton residences and city and county properties damaged.

Also, unprecedented earthquakes hit in diverse places all over America. We can expect even greater disasters and earthquakes for 2025 as the Bible says in Psalms 9:17, “The wicked shall be turned into hell and all nations that forget God.” The Bible also says in Luke 21:11, “And great earthquakes shall be in divers places.” The bad news is great judgment on America is coming but the good news is Jesus is coming soon. The Bible says these last days are dangerous times (2 Timothy 3) and nuclear weapons will be used. Revelation 6 says when the sixth seal is opened the greatest worldwide earthquake in history will happen. Many Christians believe the rapture happens at the same time because the Bible records every time a resurrection happens there is an earthquake. God doesn’t promise a world free from danger but he does promise his help whenever we face danger. (Psalm 91) Christians must have the mind of Christ Jesus and keep their mind on Jesus. Isaiah 26: 3 says, “Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusts in thee.” Christians must as Titus 2:13 says keep, “Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ!”

God hasn’t promised America that there will be a 2026, at least not for America or for each of us living in America. So we should spend 2025 living a life that is pleasing to Jesus, a life that will have meaning long after our own obituaries have faded away. We can take comfort in that although we are changing and the year is changing, God isn’t changing; this is a new year but we still serve the same almighty God. Jesus is the best comfort in changing times and the only way to really begin anew and even survive in 2025! If you love and trust Jesus you don’t have to fear the new year!  

 

D.D. Nave

Elizabethton