Eight
certainties for 2008
By
Gary Rogers
As
you cross into a new year, questions abound. Who will be the next president?
How will the war in Iraq end? Will financial challenges impact your family?
Will your children hold to their Christian faith? Are you adequately prepared
for retirement?
You
need another focus. There are certainties to guide the follower of Christ into
the days ahead.
Certainty
#1 — Nothing can separate you from God’s love.
“For
I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor
powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any
other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38,39, NKJV).
Certainty
#2 — Jesus’ sacrifice is enough to forgive you of all your sin.
“He
himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and
live for righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24, NIV).
Certainty
#3 — No matter what you face, God will never leave you. Consider Jesus’
promise:
“Surely
I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
Certainty
#4 — You can receive God’s direction for every decision.
“Trust
in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all
your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5,6,
NKJV).
Certainty
#5 — God plans for you to overcome adversity.
“I
can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
Certainty
#6 — You can have peace in the midst of any storm.
“The
peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
Certainty
#7 — God wants to provide for your needs.
“My
God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ
Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Certainty
#8 — You are headed for a wonderful place called heaven.
“In
My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be
also” (John 14:2,3).
Happy
New Year!
GARY
ROGERS is senior pastor of First Assembly of God in Coweta, Okla.
E-mail
your comments to tpe@ag.org.
