OceanSide church of Christ

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WE ARE GLAD:

The Old Is Out and The New Is In

Victor M. Eskew

 

            Every 365-1/4 days, the entire world engages in the same action.  The world escorts the old year out and rings the New Year in.  There are celebrations of this event all over the world for a 24 hour period.  When the clock strikes twelve midnight, fireworks are shot into the air, people scream and shout the words:  “Happy New Year!!!”

            The conclusion of 2020 is exceptional.  This has been a very difficult year.  It started out like any other year.  Then, the first case of the coronavirus was diagnosed at the end of January.  By April, the entire United States was on lockdown.  Businesses were closed.  Church doors were locked.  Schools were closed.  Only “essential services” were opened.  Fear gripped the hearts of many people.  The virus was extremely contagious.  Initially, many were dying of the virus.  Too, there were no successful medications to treat it.  And, all knew that vaccines usually take several years to develop, manufacture, and deliver to the public.  Since that time, we have learned a lot.  Too, the death rate has been very low.  But, we have just developed a vaccine, and it will be several months before all the population can receive it.  Our politicians and the media continue to spread a message of fear.  We hear:  “Cases are spiking.  People are not wearing masks and social distancing.  We must stay home if possible.  Don’t travel.  If you are sick at all, do not go to work.  Wash your hands.  Sanitize things before you touch them.  Do not shake hands.  Do not hug.  Stay away from nursing homes.”  The warnings are endless.  Nothing seems normal.  Even the “new normal” is not normal.  People are depressed, tired, and discouraged.  People want their lives back. 

            The year 2020 was also an election year.  National politics for the last twelve years has been unprecedented.  Barach Obama was the first black President elected.  Donald Trump was the first President in many years to be elected who did not have a political background.  Stable institutions now have question marks beside their names.  People do not know who to trust.  The media no longer reports the news; they merely give their “spin” on issues, events, and people.  There are groups that exist that use violence and murder in order to get their way politically.  Election cycles are now two years in length.  Even after the election, the outcomes are doubted and questioned and litigated.  The average American is tired of the mess.  Citizens just want a country that upholds our Constitution, our rights, and our freedom. 

            OceanSide has had a difficult year as well.  We started off being excited about a new theme for the year:  “We Will Go…I Will Go!”  We wanted to really focus on evangelism and church growth.  Then CV19 hit.  The church closed for the month of April.  We opened again in May for one service per week.  We lost two members, Brady and Linda Brown by the end of the first half of the year.  Fortunately, we were able to resume our normal Bible Class and worship schedule during the summer.  Extra activities like VBS and the clothing room, however, were cancelled.  Sadly, in October, CV19 infected many members of the OceanSide church.  About fourteen members were diagnosed with the virus.  At least four were hospitalized.  Fortunately, we did not have any members who died because of the virus.  Each time there was a spike, we went back to one service each week and continue this limited schedule at this present time.  Many of our members have not been at the worship services for months.  Some may not ever return.  Many will not return until the virus subsides and the fear of infection is not so high.  Many members are discouraged.  They wish we could get back to some of our normal activities.  They understand the threat, but miss what we might call “the good old days.”

            Fortunately, 2020 is now history.  We have finally entered into a New Year.  There is much hope in the hearts of many as we enter this next year of life.  We truly hope that the discouragement and despair of last year can be put behind us for good.  We have chosen for our theme:  “Seeking Higher Ground in 2021.”  As far as OceanSide is concerned, we have fallen backward in some areas and, we have plateaued in others.  This is not where any church needs to be.  We need to be moving forward and upward in all that we do.  This is why we put the words “higher ground” in our theme.  To do this will require effort on the part of every member of the congregation.  This is why we selected the word “seeking.”  We cannot be idle.  We cannot sit on the sidelines.  We must be actively seeking higher ground. 

            The passage of the Bible that will lay the foundation for our theme is Philippians 3:13-14.  The author of the words is the apostle Paul.  He writes:  “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:  but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  How fitting!  Let’s forget what is behind, 2020.  Let’s reach forth to those things which are before, 2021.  Let’s resolve in our hearts to take this congregation to the next level in this New Year.  To do this, we must focus on the Lord’s business.  We cannot cower in fear and paralysis.  We must get back into the vineyard of the Lord and get back to work.  Dear brethren, are you ready?  Are you ready to seek higher ground in 2021?  Remember the old is out and the new is in.  Aren’t you glad?  I am.