by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Another New Year’s Blog?

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

I know, I know, I know. You’re tired of the devotions focusing on a new year. We’ve heard it all before; yes, 2020 was horrific. Hopefully 2021 will be better. Trust God.

Well, here’s another devotion to add to the New Year’s theme.

Let’s start with the back story to this picture. I was walking our dog, Ginger, along a well-worn path, one that we have walked numerous times. I hadn’t previously noticed this scene of a stump and new tree and it dawned on me that there is a story of beginnings and endings here.

Life is filled with beginnings and endings:

• We start a walk and we finish a walk.
• We start a job and we finish a job.
• We start mowing the yard and we finish mowing the yard.

Beginnings are often filled with excitement, endings with tears. However, the opposite can also be true.  Finishing something can come with excitement while starting a new adventure can be frightening. “Happy New Year” doesn’t always come with joy.

“And he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.'”
Revelation 21:6 English Standard Version

Whether the beginning of this year is exciting or filled with caution, one thing, one person, remains the same: Jesus, our Alpha and Omega, the first letter of the alphabet and the last letter. He encompasses everything.

The picture of Jesus being the Alpha and Omega is not merely about the beginning and the ending of our lives as if we’re left floundering the rest of our lives, but on Jesus being present with us at all times. Jesus is not just with us at our birth and death but every moment in between.

Much will happen in our lives between New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve in 2021. Jesus is present at every moment, at every twist and turn of this year and beyond.

When we look back over 2020, we see that Jesus guided us through our struggles. He will also lead us into the uncharted territory of 2021.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado