What are our goals for the new year? Will we follow the lust of the eyes, or the lust of the flesh, or the pride of life and make the things of this world our goals? Will we pierce through our soul with many sorrows, as Apostle Paul warns, because we make riches, that is, money and the things that money can buy the goal of our life? Will we end up like the famous poet Lord Byron who at the height of his fame and fortune cried, "I have quaffed at every cup of pleasure and drank at every cup of fame, but a las, I die of thirst." If we put the lust of the flesh before the needs of our eternal souls, we will indeed gravely miss the mark and end up like that man in the poem "He fed his body, but starved his soul."
"There was a man that some men call great,
He made good and had grappled with fate.
He'd won some fame and some riches, too.
But in the crowd there were those that knew,
The state of his soul, so miserably small, that real greatness he knew not at all.
For all throughout life he had missed the real goal and fed his body but starved his soul.
He had no time for the little things that so much peace and contentment brings,
a gentle hug, a child's tender look, a promise sweet from the dear Old Book,
a little talk with a Friend Divine, a little walk where the wild flowers twine.
He was just half a man, not well rounded-whole,
who fed his body and starved his soul.
And then the day of accounting came and in God's own time Death called his name. Then his body that he fed and cared so well, was left behind like an empty shell,
while his shrivelled soul went to see his God.
All unprepared and paid the full toll, for he fed his body but starved his soul.
So my friends let us walk today where the truly greatest have full sway,
let us take the path that higher goes, where the soul of man surely grows,
you'll never hear it said of us then "just one of the common herd of men,"
for if you would be well-rounded whole, you must read God's Word to enlighten your soul."
Apostle Paul tells us to forget the past and reach forward to the things that are before keeping our heart and mind on the things that are above, not of this world. Let us not mind earthly things, but heavenly. Let us walk in love and forgive one another. Let us keep our heart and mind on that Heavenly City like the famous saints of God in Hebrews chapter 11 who by faith sojourned in this world while looking for that Eternal City with real foundations whose builder and maker is God. Let us forsake our own Egypts and embrace the reproach we receive for following Christ as greater riches and treasures than this world has to offer. Let us choose afliction and suffering, if need be, with God, than the pleasure that sin offers us for a season. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life shall pass away, but he that does the will of God shall abide forever.
Therefore, as we make our goals for the new year, let us put God first in our lives. Let us forsake our plans and goals and say, "Jesus, nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling. Let Thy will, not My will, be done in my life for you this year. Let me seek you first in my life. Help me forsake all and any thing that keeps me from You and from following You with all my heart, body, and soul. Lord, give me full submission, and full obedience to You. Help me truly be your disciple. In Jesus's name, I pray." Amen.
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