It seems to bring a melancholy mood swing the minute we mention “the last” of just about anything. OK, the last chemo treatment is an exception, but, as they say, the exception proves the rule. This is the last blog of 2020. My great friend, Pastor Jerry Cook, told me that he already had the title of his final 2020 sermon, and it was “Good Riddance.” We’re moving on up to 2021. The rest of Tuesday, all of Wednesday and all of Thursday, and that’s it! A little over 63 hours and we say “good-bye” to 2020. What’s to be sad about that?
2020 brought a new term to our ears, and sadly to our eyes as well. It’s called COVID-19, the Kung Flu, The China Flu, or whatever. According to the CDC, there have been over nineteen million cases in America, with 332,246 of those ending up being fatal. That’s sad. I guess we thought that pandemics were a thing of the distant past, you know, the Middle Ages or maybe 3rd world countries, but here in America? Come on! Then came the politicized blame-game. It was all Trump’s fault! Great. What’s Inauguration Day? January 20th! Oh Goodie, the Democrats will solve all of our problems by January 21st.
Are we in a melancholy mood over the loss of 2020? Future potential and the dawning of a new day bring optimism, but looking back we miss those who moved on. Pastor Smith and Nick Cassel are two of the Pioneer congregation that relocated in 2020, and things are not the same without them. This is of course true of others whose names I am not listing, those who also made their trip to Heaven, completing their pilgrimage here on earth. We’re happy for them, they’ve got it perfectly good now, but we selfishly and understandably live with temporarily broken hearts.
It’s life. Out with the old, in with the new. Mike & Julie sold their house and moved out of state. Song Leader and Church Pianist respectively for over thirty years, and now they’re a part of Pioneer Baptist Church History. Teresa’s now on the Piano and Pastor Enoch is directing the platform. We miss the old, and we press on to the new. 2020 was another year to serve the LORD Jesus Christ, and as a church, we did that. Were there heartaches and sorrows? Of course there were, and 2021 will be no different in that respect. We’ll work till Jesus comes, then we’ll be gathered home. People were saved in 2020, giving each of them a miraculous and everlasting moment that transcends every moment, no matter the digits of the year.
Someone said that the question was, “What will I do differently in the coming year?” That’s good. How about, “More service for Christ and less sin for self.” We’re marching to Zion in our progress as pilgrims, and there are going to be sloughs of desponds along the way, but we know the Journey ends with the River of Life.
2020. Let’s just put another notch through the bark of our own tree of life, indicating that we completed one more year of faithfulness, and that if the LORD should tarry His Return, by His grace we’ll be faithful likewise in 2021. In one sense, whether we go to Him, or He comes to us, it constitutes His appearing.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8 KJV)
Happy New Year!
Love to all,
Pastor
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