By Leo Hellyer
Well, here we are. The momentous year of 2025 is upon us. As we embark on this new year, our attitudes will have a significant impact on how the year goes. I fully understand that things happen that we have no control over, but we do have control over how we respond to them.
The year brings us not just a new calendar but a newness in politics, the economy, business, immigration, laws, relationships, international stability, and sports, just to name a few aspects of our lives. As we face changes, challenges, and opportunities, we will be much more successful if we remember that we do not encounter these facets of life alone.
As Christians, we must always remember what God speaks to us in Scripture as we travel through our daily lives. There are many verses that speak to the fact that we do not face anything alone.
We read in Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Psalm 23:4 states, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me: your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
In Matthew 28:20, Jesus Himself says, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Not only are we not alone to proceed through life in the spiritual realm, but we do not need to carry everything on our shoulders alone in the temporal or secular realm. As Christians we should each have people around us in our circle of relationships who are eager to come alongside of us as we live our lives.
As we enter any endeavor, there is strength in numbers. Biblically, we read in Ecclesiastes 4:12, “And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”
Let me take you on an informational detour for a brief time. Many people around the world, spread over 157 countries, read Christian Living Magazine. Of these people, worldwide, presumably, the vast majority are Christians, Christ followers. Just ponder for a little while the impact readers of Christian Living Magazine, throughout the world, could have on this entire planet if we would unite in the factual beliefs that we have been talking about in this one column, in this one edition of Christian Living Magazine. If we can agree that “We face nothing alone, God is with us through everything” and “A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart,” we can have a huge impact on countries worldwide. This could give an entirely new meaning to the term “United Nations.”
Wouldn’t it be awesome if Christians (Christ followers) worldwide could agree on one all-encompassing tenant: “Let’s concentrate on our commonalities and not our differences.”
Now that is a gargantuan goal, right? How could that ever come to fruition? Well, it starts at the foundation, the cornerstone. It starts in the hearts of individual men and women. It moves to small groups, then congregations, then cities, then nations, magazines with worldwide ministry to believers, and on and on. Let us not forget, it begins with individuals, individual faith and obedience, individual servanthood, individual humility, and individual courage.
Let us remember that in the scope of eternity, the things that we stress over, a lot of the things that we fret about, a lot of the things that affect our health and enjoyment of life, mean nothing in eternity. These things are just a blink of an eye. There are things around us to distract us from what is true, and important, and lasting. Yes, there are things that press us, that we must deal with, but we cannot let these things of the world affect, challenge, or diminish our relationship with God the Creator, our Savior Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit.
We live in a lost world where people are searching for the truth. Some people are searching in all the wrong places. Let us be blazing searchlights that can direct people to the truth: the saving truth of the gospel.
Let us make 2025 the year that the faithful, the Christians, the Christ followers come out of our cocoons, our caves, our protective bubbles, our hushed voices, and rock the foundations of this world. Once again, remember we start in our own bubble, we start the fire where we are and watch it grow. Let us make sure that we are not “lukewarm.” Let us make sure that if there were a trial to convict us of being a Christian that the jury would unanimously come to a guilty verdict. Let everyone of us do what we can to prove that ‘God Is Not Dead!’
We have the power to make 2025 a glorious, wonderful, magnificent year of love and compassion. Let us help the world, starting right where we are; experience the ‘Unconditional Love of God Almighty through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.’
Seek the truth, seek like-minded believers, and stretch your faith. Put feet to your faith. All of us must be open to what God would have us do, to clearly show His love to those He brings across our path.
Leo Hellyer is a non-staff pastor with a local church and has been married to his wife Norma for 50 years. The couple volunteered with the Boise FamilyLife Ministry Team for 20 years. Leo has also been serving with Boise Rescue Mission Ministries for more than 20 years and is currently serving at the River of Life Rescue Mission. He is president and chief firearms instructor with Helping Hands Firearms Training LLC. If you have questions about Real Man’s Toolbox, or need other assistance, he may be reached at [email protected] or (208) 340-5544.
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