What Difference will 2023 Make for you? By Horane Smith

There always seems to be much apprehension by many people over what lies ahead for them in a new calendar year. I use the term “calendar year” because from a biblical perspective, God’s New Year begins in the spring when everything starts growing anew, not in the winter when the land is frozen in many countries. Exodus 12:2, This month (Nisan) shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you.

Nevertheless, the calendar year governs our lives because it regulates our time. Human beings operate in a time dimension whereas God is not restricted to time. A thousand years for us is a like a day for him when we measure time by human reckoning. 2 Pet. 3.8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

As far as human beings are concerned, we will get one year older this year when we measure our time on earth. One could also apply some harsh realities regarding our sojourn on this planet; for sure, we will be one year nearer to our death if we don’t die this year. But on the positive side, we can also take comfort in the fact that we will also be one year nearer to the Kingdom of God, when we reach December 31, 2023 for those of us who have surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ.

The salient question then is what difference will 2032 make for you? You could achieve many goals – whether it’s to finish university, get a better job to earn more money, buy a house, car, get married, do some traveling. Those are achievable goals which depend on the individual and their plans to achieve them. However, these are temporary goals that only last for a while. They are like vapour!

On the other hand, come December 31, 2023, some may find that not a single goal would have been achieved. What does that mean? What implications this may have on your future endeavours? Will that bring more stress and hopelessness in your life or bring you to a state where you don’t recognize God as your Creator and Saviour anymore?

The new calendar year is not God’s calendar year yet it gives us another opportunity to get closer in our walk with God. We are going to get older, nonetheless, and we’ll be nearer to our demise, so if you sense that the Great God of Heaven, YAHWEH,  is calling you to “come all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest,” then heed the call and don’t be like the Israelites who “harden their hearts,” and went whoring after other gods.