Reformátusok Lapja, 1971 (71. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1971-01-01 / 1. szám
Hungarian Reformed Religious Paper Founded in 1900 OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE CALVIN SYNOD — UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST BEHOLD A NEW MAN IN THE NEW YEAR The beginning of a year demands a spirited person. Where a healthy spirit dwells, there the human face lights up as a lamp in the dark. There is a warm glow in the eye. Unfortunataely today there is a cold stare in many an eye, clearly indicating that the inner fire of the spirit went out. Dispirited people walk the streets, attend to their work and the business of daily living, so facing a new year. Needless to say, it is the worst possible way to face even a moment, let alone a whole year. What is there to do that would fill the days ahead with enthusiasm and people whose spirit is alive? Only a rebirth can work that miracle! “Ye must be born again!” (John 3:7). This idea of our Lord about being born again sounds not only fascinating but revolutionary. The one problem, most pressing on everyone’s mind nowadays, is the revolutionary cry for changes. To suggest a revolution is foolish. But to suggest changes is not only good but very necessary. But before anything, man must change. He must return from what he worship, turn to God and worship only Him. He must turn from what he believes in now to the true faith, to believe only in God. Man must have this change of gods, this change of faiths. Only God can liberate man from what frustrates and enslaves his spirit, what makes the human spirit weak and breakable. Only God can change us back to what we once were — a child. Only He can rekindle within us the spark of that child-like spirit which in the words of the Scriptures “believeth all things, hopeth all things, beareth all things.” With a torn, deflated and weary spirit of a grown-up, one tends to give up hope and lose faith easily under the crosses and burdens of life. But with the spirit of a child, one is able, ready and willing to tackle any problem, even the one that seems impossible. Since there is a new year, let there be a new man, reborn in spirit, who acts and will do things in a child-like spirit. There is a certain way of acquiring such spirit. It is to “take off the old self and put on a new one” so to become “new creatures in Christ” (II. Cor. 5:17) New creature in Christ! What kind of creature is that? It is the one who knows that in a new year only the time element is new but the fears, the worries, the problems even some of the burdens and troubles are old stuff, left-overs. But now, every second of this year is a new opportunity to deal with them successfully. Successful will be the man who abandons all faith in himself and renews his trust in God, who is determined not to rely on his strength but will welcome the power of God to carry him through the day, and if necessary through “fire and flood” or the torment of his own prviate hell. His spirit will glow most when the darkness will be deepest. Such is the person called “new creature in Christ” who looks forward to this year and will make it happy and successful not only for himself but others also. Joseph Marsalko When as a child, I laughed and wept, Time crept; When as a youth, I dreamed and talked, Time walked; When I became a full grown man, Time ran; When older still I daily grew, Time flew; Soon I shall find in traveling on, Time gone.
