Happy New Year!?
Obviously many of you reading this are not Jewish but believe that “all Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). When 2 Timothy 3:16-17 was written there wasn’t a New Testament. The “Scripture” Paul referred to was the Old Testament, or the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant revealed God’s calendar of events in the Person of Jesus (consider Passover and Pentecost). And it is through this Old Covenant that God reveals future events (Feast of Tabernacles – when God will tabernacle with His people) revealing God’s calendar of major events. At sundown tonight a new year begins – according to God’s calendar (not simply Judaism). Presently, God’s year is numbered at 5784, yet today marks a new year, 5785. Happy New Year!
What significance does this have for you and I? According to Scripture, this is the time of year God came down to meet with Moses and the children of Israel. God essentially peeled back the Heavens causing His Throne to manifest on Mount Sinai (also called Mt. Horeb). This Manifestation was accompanied by a loud trumpet blast (called a shofar or rams horn). Exodus 19:16-19 The third morning there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.17 Then Moses brought the people from the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.18 Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, for the Lord descended upon it in fire; its smoke ascended like that of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 As the trumpet blast grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with a voice. AMPC
Based on this Scripture modern Jewish people believe God draws near at the beginning of a new year. This is why many practice what is known as the Ten Days of Awe, which culminates in the major fast day of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. Why is this significant to us? Rev. 4:1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice which I had heard addressing me like [the calling of] a war trumpet said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place in the future. 2 At once I came under the [Holy] Spirit’s power, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the throne! AMPC
Notice in verse one of the AMPC translation states: And the first voice which I had heard addressing me like [the calling of] a war trumpet…” The Apostle John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day when Jesus appears to Him. Jesus draws near to John to call to Him like a war trumpet or shofar. Just like Moses in Exodus 19 John was invited to “Come up Here” where he saw a door standing open. Jesus is the Door of Revelation 4:1. We know this from John 10 where Jesus taught that He was the Shepherd and the Door for the Sheep.
Whenever I fast, or seek the Lord purposefully through worship, thanksgiving and prayer; when ever I come near a prophet or an apostle – I become aware of one thing: when Jesus, the Light draws near He exposes the darkness in me. Things surface and the darkness in me is exposed. What I want you to be aware of, in this high and holy season, is that Jesus has opened the Door to Who He is. As He draws nearer to us His Light exposes the darkness in and around us. Many believe the Return of Jesus is imminent and it is. But know that as He draws nearer His Light kicks up the darkness making it easier to see and recognize. Presently you and I are hurtling toward His Light and whether you are conscious and aware of it or not – His Light is exposing darkness in and around us. Darkness is as dust before His Feet but its at His feet we find our salvation draws near calling us to repentance and transformation.
I say all of this to make you aware of God’s Processes and Ways so you will be conscious and aware of the Light which exposes the darkness in you. Consciously choose to repent quickly and not to blame others for your actions, or attitudes. When His Light kicks up the darkness in you agree with Him quickly, confessing it, and forsaking it. Pray for His Grace to operate in the opposite spirit and to be set free from the dust of darkness.
In John 8 Jesus stooped to write in the dust and as Jesus stooped down – He delivered and saved the woman caught in the act of adultery. Brad McClendon reminds us “Jesus got His identity through the trial and attack of the religious pharisees.” It was in “stooping” to save that He was the Light of the World in that given situation. Php. 2:9 reminds us Jesus emptied Himself – stooping so low – to bring salvation to us, not simply a woman caught in the act of adultery. If Jesus had to stoop low in the dust of religious accusation to be the Light of Salvation you too will have to stoop and join Him in the dust of the darkness that is still in us and surrounds us. During this high and holy season seek to join Jesus in stooping in the dust of darkness that you might be delivered from your darkness into His Light.
