And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied: “Go out into the darkness and put your hand in the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
By: Rev. Gerald Adams
Something For Sunday
‘Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’ Isaiah 41:10 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Each December 31 in some churches, especially African American Churches, Watch Night Services or Freedom Night Services are held. The Services have a two-fold purpose. On the one hand, congregants bring in the New Year in prayer and thanksgiving, on the other, congregants celebrate the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
In my home church, one of the elder deacons always prefaced his prayer by saying; “Tonight we close our book on (old year) and begin writing volume (new year.)
On December 31, we closed volume 2020. It was quite an eventful year. Our nation was made to acknowledge systemic racism that drives many of our decision makers. Racial tension resulted from this entitlement mentality which permitted the killing of the innocent without the fear of reprisal. However, in 2020 the masses began to react. Then, we were driven to compassion by a pandemic resulting from the worldwide Corona Virus infections. Political strife was fostered by persons who following a cult like leader refused to live as the Lord requires in a land whose motto is: In God we trust.
So where do we go from here? It is more than obvious that our lives will never be the same again. Like it or not, we will no longer be able to be greed driven. The new normal will be a repentant people who have turned from their wicked ways and surrendered to God.
Personally, I begin 2021 as I do each New Year by affirming the words of Minnie Louise Haskins poem God Knows or the Gate of the Year: And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.” And he replied: “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”So, I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night
I am constantly reassured by the biblical admonition: Fear not, I am with you. Our Holy Writ is filled with this assurance.
Hymn writers are some of our best theologians.
Listens as “K” sings:
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
“In every condition, in sickness, in health,
in poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth,
at home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
as days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.”
“Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, upheld by My righteous omnipotent hand.”
“Happy New Year May your year be filled with bountiful blessings!
