“New Beginnings” Isaiah 43:5
Isaiah 43:5 says, "Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west". Some say that Isaiah 43 encourages people to view God's grace as a starting point to expect a future with hope instead of fear.
This time of year, New Year, Epiphany, the revelation of Christ to the Magi, the revealing of something into our lives, is a great way to shine a light on a new beginning or a re-start for something. I don’t know what this season of life or this day holds for you but what I cling onto is this verse again. Isaiah 43:5 says, "Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”
It was several years ago, and I got a call from a member of a church that I used to serve in the North GA area. Larry the husband of Teresa was a hard man and found it very hard to talk about God, but his wife was very faith in coming to church, serving in the church, and being a great wife to him. Larry got sick; in fact, it ended up being cancer that attacked Larry’s body. I remember the conversation with Teresa and how fearful she was for her husband and just the thought of where his eternal life would be. I visited Larry in his last days, this hard, rough, man and what I saw was a man that was broken and scared too. Larry and I had a great conversation, we laughed and cried a lot. In the end I remember the last thing, was Larry reaching his arms towards heaven after giving his life to Christ and then taking his last breath. It was that moment that I knew there was a revelation into Larry’s life of the who Christ was much like it was for the Magi or the shepherds when they saw the Christ child.
I come back to the beginning and ask you to ponder a question, and what does this New Year hold for you? The story of the Magi in Matthew 2 says this, “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.” When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote:
You, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
by no means are you least among the rulers of Judah,
because from you will come one who governs,
who will shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod secretly called for the magi and found out from them the time when the star had first appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you’ve found him, report to me so that I too may go and honor him.” When they heard the king, they went; and look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Because they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route.”
There is this sense of the unexpected going on in the story. There were the magi wondering and pondering where to go and what to expect. Herod was also wondering and ponder what kind of announcement could this be that these magi would bring this to him and now has him worried. However, in the midst of the wonder, there is a beautiful revelation that points the magi to all their answers and leads them to pour themselves out. “When they heard the king, they went; and look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him.”
Look, I have no idea what this new year holds for any of us, I really wish I did. I wish I could tell you all that life is going to be great, life is going to be smooth, life is going to be full of joy, life is going to be amazing, but if I did that then I would be lying wouldn’t I. What I do know is that much like the magi, I am willing to wonder and discover what the Christ means for my life and maybe that is what is behind the Isaiah 43:5 passage. It says, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.” Maybe this New Year is about new discoveries, new things, new hopes, new dreams, new visions, new desires, and in that knowing that we do not have to fear because God is with us, Emmanuel.
Abraham really had no idea where he was going but went, and still had struggles along the way. God puts Joseph in a position to aid his family when they flee the drought in Canaan to live in Egypt. God calls Ruth (a Moabite) out of Moab to go back to Bethlehem. Jonah journeying eventually to Ninevah was hard and a bold decision. Joseph and Mary having to travel back to Jerusalem was no easy ride and then getting there finding no place to stay. Story after story of people making decisions, new discoveries, new things, new hopes, new dreams, new visions, new desires, and it wasn’t easy.
The magi journeyed not really knowing what they would find but what they found, called them to their knees. I believe this is what Epiphany is about, it is a time to discover who we are and a time to force ourselves to a place of discovery. Sometimes discovery starts right here. In my story Larry finally discovered who Christ was right before the end of his life. I come back to the question for all of us, I don’t know what this season of life or this day holds for you, but we need to ask ourselves are we willing to wonder and discover what the Christ means for our lives? Are we willing to take that unexpected journey to see what the Christ has for all of us? Are you willing to journey to find those new discoveries, new things, new hopes, new dreams, new visions, new desires, new callings? Well can I tell you something? Isaiah 43:5 says "Do not be afraid, for I am with you…”