The Grace Of New

As we have proven in yesterday’s discourse, there are last times in the everyday, customary, usual course of life. If we accept these last times of life - in thought, word and deed - then we can indeed rejoice in Christ Jesus, because He brings and guarantees last times, or end times in us, as well as first times or beginning times in us. Just as there is a last which comes in Jesus, since He is the First and the Last, Alpha and Omega, God has given convincing, personal proof that He is with you - Immanuel – God with us. He has shown Himself in Love, in the coming of a human Baby and in the giving of His human Body as a Man, to save sinners. If you have been accepting yet rejecting; believing yet questioning; receiving yet doubting; wanting yet refusing, today is the perfect first for you. Today is the perfect first of 2024.

Indeed, the death, or ending of 2023 brings the birth or beginning of 2024. Whatever of this New Year the Lord has chosen to give to you, and for however long, one thing is certain. God never gives you half of Himself, no matter how small or big you are and no matter how important or unimportant you think you are. In the same way, the death of vanity and pride brings the birth of something new. What is this assured, already present, new, that is before you?

I begin this New Year by offering you these verses from Psalm 24.

Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Psalm 24: 3 – 6.

The Psalm asks a two-part question and offers one single answer.

Two-part Question: Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place?

As the Psalmist stands pondering the Greatness and Awesomeness of Creator God, he marvels and openly gives respect, honour and obeisance to Him. Of the Sovereign Lord’s perfect, undefiled holiness, he asks the question, Who can ascend the hill of the Lord and stand in His holy place?

But where is the hill of the Lord? Where is His holy place? As I have been schooled, I offer you. This is what it is for me today and where it is also. Will you, by faith, accept it all as for you too?

The Lord’s hill is Calvary. It is the place where Jesus mounts His Cross. It is the place where He interposes His Pure, Precious Blood to save sinners, you and me. It is the place where the work of the sinless and innocent takes place. It is the place of perfect, pure, unadulterated Grace. It is the chosen hill of Love.

The Lord’s holy place is Christianity. It is the Christian life, the place where He takes His Crown. It is the place where He lives to sanctify you and me, all whom He has saved. It is the place where the work of justification and sanctification takes place. It is the chosen place of Love.

It is the same for you. My friends, brothers and sisters in Father God, this is what I cling to at the beginning of this New Year, 2024, as this two-part question of the Palmist is brought before me.

Answer: He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swears by what is false.

At the threshold of this New Year, which has been so graciously and lovingly opened up to me, I ask:

Lord, who has clean hands?
Lord, who has a pure heart?
Lord, who does not lift up his soul to an idol?
Lord, who does not swear by what is false?

I don’t know who fits the criteria, but this I do know, I am not a candidate or a person who has clean hands, a pure heart and has not lifted up my soul to an idol or sworn by what is false.

So is there no hope for me? Is there no way that I can know total forgiveness and repentance? Is there no way that I can be totally changed and my position made totally different? Are you standing at the same threshold with me, listening to these words and thinking similar thoughts, as the New Year opens up to you? Receive this Good News. Yes! There is hope, only because of the God-Man Jesus. It’s when you know that the Lord lives in you, when you have accepted His proofs in you that His Person is present in you, you are then able to ascend His hill and stand in His holy place. Step forward in the sure knowledge that the Incarnate God who took a Cross just to save you, wears a Crown just to keep you.