Calvin Synod Herald, 1978 (78. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1978-01-01 / 1-2. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 3 In the Tension of New and Old As we enter the year of 1978, two scripture passages come to my mind: “There is no new thing under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9) and “Behold, 1 make all things new” (Rev. 21:5). These Bible quotations, seemingly in contradiction, express the tension we all face on the threshold of the New Year and may enable us to find the needed reorientation, guidance and strength. “There is no new thing under the sun” — said the Preacher for whom January 1st had no thrill and excitement, but only cynical boredom and disgust. In fact, January 1st ceased to be for him the beginning of a NEW year; it was only the beginning of ANOTHER year of hopelessness and despair. Let us admit, this attitude is not unknown among us at the beginning of 1978. Although we live in an age of revolutions and “new” things are being poured upon us almost constantly, there are many people who enter the new year with boredom and despair. Somehow we know that THINGS, even revolutionary new things, cannot make life really new; man remains crooked, our existence continues to be meaningless, and this whole world is threatened by destruction. “There is no new thing under the sun!” It is so, it is so — without FAITH in the ever active, living GOD! But the heart of the Christian Gospel is that with Christ all things become new! As Irenaeus expressed it: “Learn that He brought every new thing by bringing Himself.” In Him we have new covenant, new man, new hope, new Jerusalem, new heaven and new earth. “Behold, I make all things neic!” says the glorious Christ who sits upon the throne. Let us all take courage then! God can renew our lost opportunities, give us another chance if we truly repent! (Jonah 3:1-3). God can also create neic opportunities if we have faith to recognize iti “Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them,” (Isa. 42:9). The valley of sorrow can be a garden of fotj. Fear, frustration, despair can be replaced by courage, victory, trust. Impossibilities can become divine opportunities, if we have faith in Him! But greater than all this: God can re-create man! “If any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come!” (Cor. 5:17). What is the use of renewing everything if man remains the old sinful creature? But the Gospel is that God can perform heart surgery: “l will give them a new heart and put a new spirit within them; I will take the stony heart out of their flesh ...” (Ez. 11:19) Therefore, our Reformed forefathers conceived the dynamics of the Christian life in the dying of the old self and the birth of the new. What a creative tension! Finally: God can renew this whole world! “Behold I create new heavens and new earth” (Isa. 65:17, 2. Pet. 3:13, Rev. 21:1). And nothing less can be the church’s vision. God elected us, renews us in order to serve this vision! Not apocalyptically, but prophetically: with ethical insight and eschatological realism! A church which is not interested in this vision, is not the church of the living God! What makes the new year NEW? Not resolutions lightly made Or worthless dreams born to fade, But faith in Christ instead of fate, More room for God and less for hate! “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches!” (Rev. 3:22) Bishop John Butosi DON'T QUIT When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit — Rest if you must, but don’t you quit. Life is queerer with its twists and turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many a fellow turns about When he might have won had he stuck it out. Don’t give up though the pace seems slow — You may succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than It seems to a faint and faltering man; Often the struggler has given up When he might have captured the victor’s cup; And he learned too late when the night came down, How close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out — The silver tint, of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems afar; So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit, — It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit. Author Unknown
