A Resolution To Live By

Mobs of people, a few staggering drunks, police clad in riot gear, traffic at a standstill, street vendors profits skyrocketing, horns blaring, children awed by the confusion.

Scene: the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur Central on New Year's Eve minutes from midnight. Somehow, in the midst of the chaos, I found an abandoned ledge in an old parking lot with a clear view of the towers. Perching myself upon it, I watched the madness from a semi-safe distance. My only companions were a couple security guards who periodically told me the time. Then it happened...the countdown, the fireworks, the celebration.

As the explosions of fireworks lit up the night sky, I contemplated, why? Why do we usher in the new year with such happiness, expectation, and excitement? What unites people to push into the future with such vigor? My hypothesis may be deemed simple or incomplete, but give it thought. We celebrate the desire for a fresh start, freedom from the failures of the past, liberation from painful memories, a discharge of unmet expectations, the hope of a better tomorrow, and a place of new beginnings.

Thus, we make our resolutions for the new year. Often times, eerily similar to our past commitments. According to various polls, the most common resolutions are as follows.

1. Lose weight and get in better physical shape

2. Reduce debt and stick to a budget

3. Enjoy more quality time with family

4. Quit smoking and drinking

5. Volunteer more often

6. Learn something new

7. Get organized

Noble endeavors, without doubt, but what is the foundation of such pursuits? Are we pursuing self-actualization, a life of significance, purpose, acceptance, forgiveness? As I considered these things, it became evident that we focus on the superficial symptoms of our problems while failing to reconcile the heart of the issue. There is nothing wrong with pursuing the aforementioned items, but what will make our pursuit this year any different than the past?

Working among street children has put this point to the test. I can easily deal with the superficial issues of the street (drugs, sexual abuse, violence, etc) but without asking the question, "Why are these phenomena's present in the first place?" A child didn't just wake up one morning and decide, "I'm going to go live on the street and be sexually abused." Events of life caused this digression.

Likewise, our actions are the product of our life's decisions.

King Solomon so beautiful states, "God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11) We have not been created to live a temporal life with limited achievements. We are eternal beings with an eternal purpose and until we pursue THAT purpose, we will continue to suffer failed expectations and unmet potential. Perhaps, our problem is that we are striving for the wrong goal.

Prioritizing our activities can be a hassle and pain, but I believe Jesus offers us a clue. " Do not worry about tomorrow...but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:32-33) To "seek" is "to strive, to search". To know God, His authority in your life, AND His righteousness (or justice) is not simply a matter of head-knowledge. Rather, it must be converted into wisdom which demands action (based on faith). We know through both knowledge and experience. To "seek" is an active pursuit requiring determination.

Solomon added, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." My friend, notice that it is not God's plan to spare us from the events of life, but rather, to use these lessons to draw us to His real purpose of our existence. To know Him, have a relationship with Him, to love Him!

The real question is, "How will we respond?" With our old habits, or with a fresh perspective of a great plan/purpose? Will we look on the temporal or the eternal? "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18)

Thus as we embark on this new year, I close with a compelling question worth considering, directly from the mouth of Jesus. "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?" (Matthew 16:26) Therefore, my resolution is simple. "That I may know Him...the fellowship of His sufferings...the power of His resurrection." (Philippians 3:10) In that pursuit, I find purpose.

Happy New Year!