As we near the end of 2022, let us pause in sobriety to marvel at the uniqueness of the opportunities we have to live in Time. This month is December, the only December 2022 that world history will ever know. You’re here, and I’m here, and all of us who are alive are doing Earth together in a special cohort of humanity that will not be the same tomorrow because some today will die, and others today will be born. The exact set of people dwelling on this planet is ever changing. So take each moment seriously, especially with regard to the precious chance you have to interact with each person who is part of your day.
You have influence. Although you are a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away (James 4:14), you are also salt (Matthew 5:13); you are light (Matthew 5:14), and God’s power is perfected in your weakness (II Corinthians 12:9). You don’t have to be astonishing to accomplish astonishing things. You can “accomplish much”, even this month, in these unfolding days, by confessing your sins, praying for others, receiving prayer yourself and thereby choosing to be healed (James 5:16).
When was the last time you honestly confessed your real sins? Who did you tell? How forthcoming were you about your wrong motives (James 4:3)? Do you wish to be made well? (John 5:6)? Then tell the truth (Ephesians 4:25). Be starkly realistic, so that you wake up and notice that you can light the world, you can salt the earth, you can find out firsthand how God’s power becomes perfected in YOUR weakness in these few weeks of December as 2022 wraps up. If you’re truthful about your sin, you can also be truthful about God’s power, His power in YOU. Truthfulness breeds faith in the heart of a Christian.
You have 31 days in December. How will you use them? Will you take a risk on behalf of someone else? Will you abide in Christ and trust that IF you abide in Him, and He in You, that you will bear MUCH fruit (John 15:5)? Scripture teaches us to number our days (Psalm 90:12). As Christ’s followers, we must realize that each day is evil (Ephesians 5:16), and yet we are to be of good cheer! Jesus said it bluntly: “In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart!” Be courageous! Find moral courage! Be of cheer! “For I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Jesus has already overcome the obstacles that you will face during this month. Jesus is Lord of all (Philippians 2:10). He is Lord of the hours left in your 2022. He is greater than your fears, greater than your foes, and greater than the condemnation in your heart (I John 3:19-20). He is so great that His power (not yours–don’t confuse the two) is perfected in your weakness, your vulnerability, your release of self-preservation (II Corinthians 12:9).
So go for it. Live your life for Christ as the apostle did. He said, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). While you sojourn through Time, you have time to pray, take risks, and accomplish much by abiding in Christ and going out of your way to love God and others.
If you would like more guidance, then sign up for Strategic Futuring because it will positively change your relationship with your future. I’ve taught it over 50x, and I’m still learning from it. Or maybe start instead with the course, Get Right On Mission. It will help you with your schedule and give you teaching and instruction on how to make the most of your time (Ephesians 5:16). Or maybe instead, register for Knowing Father God, because in this course we will be writing Repentance Plans, not based on gut-wrenching willpower, but rather based on what we learn about God. You see, every time we sin, we do so due to wrong theology. So instead of striving in our strength to be “good Christians,” we can make more progress by correcting our theology (Romans 12:1-2), our deep beliefs that we may not yet realize that we have.
In closing, remember this: Although this is the last time that we will ever live in 2022, it is also the first time we will live in December 2022. Take heart!