Another calendar year – it is an arbitrary point in the space-time continuum. Yet it is one that seemingly all cultures celebrate or at least commemorate. As a follower of Christ I know that I’m an eternal creature. However, there was a definitive point where I came into being, but there will be no end. The enormity of that statement is astounding if I think about it for a while. From out of nowhere, from nothing appeared a creation that will exist for all eternity. Forever. The mind-blowing thing is that God had me in his thoughts and had plans for me before I was ever conceived.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart… – Jeremiah 1:5

But it is deeper than that, much deeper. He already knew everything that there would ever be to know about me before he even created the world.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. – Ephesians 1:4-12

Did you notice that God made a promise in the verses above? The redemption, the kingdom restored, the new heaven and the new earth are coming! When “the times reach their fulfillment”. Time is running out. It will be fulfilled. I imagine it like a huge wind-up machine that is slowly running out of power. Eventually the last click of a gear will sound. The last clack of a lever will reverberate through the halls of heaven. And time will cease. Eternity will begin!

But, until then. Until that final tick of the heavenly clockwork, we have more pages to pen in the annals of our lives. A new metaphorical journal is before me, and you. What will we inscribe therein? I pray that it is worthy of our King. I pray that our new year is Epic.

Blessings to you.

Jan Broucinek
Wildmen Ministry