As I look ahead to 2014, I remember an event one winter many years ago when my older sister was 13 and I was 9. We decided to walk on frozen Stuart Lake and hadn’t been out long when the sound of a snowmobile drew closer and closer. To our horror, we realized the driver intended to run us down. We were too far out in the open, and with no time or place to run, my sister pushed me behind her and told me firmly not to move. Then she took a few steps ahead of me and bravely turned to face the oncoming driver. He plowed into her with the full force of his uncovered sled. I watched in horror as she flew upwards in the air, over his head, and behind him. Satisfied, he ignored me and sped off down the lake.
Miraculously, my sister’s legs were not shattered, but pierced to the bone and bruised. I ran to her, but with no regard for herself, she hugged me tightly and said, “I’m so glad he didn’t hit you.”
That type of sacrificial love has only one description – “Christ-like.” I have never doubted my sister’s love because she demonstrated it that day on Stuart Lake.
In the same way, I can look forward to 2014 with confidence because I remember back to what Jesus did for me on the cross at Calvary. He saw death coming straight for me, but He stood in the gap and took the blow intended for me, because of my own foolish sins. The bible says, “God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus invites everyone to find eternal safety in Him, so that we can all face 2014 with confidence that nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:31-39).