A NEW START – I’m Going Back To…and Getting Away From!

Each year about this time, many of us reflect on the past (or current) year and tally up our accomplishments, successes, victories, failures, disappointments, and ups and downs.  I, for one, was one that believed that no other year could be as bad as 2007.  In fact, 2008 was going to be the year of “new beginnings.”  Unfortunately, the world-wide economic conditions of 2008 versus 2007 (and all prior years) is like comparing elementary school to a post-graduate course of study; the collapse of Wall Street, a “trillion” dollar financial bail-out, the rescuing of insurance and brokerage institutions, the credit crisis, bridging the automobile and manufacturing sectors…the affects are so far reaching and inter-woven, just one more “straw” on the camel’s back…you get the picture.  What is needed is a “new start.” 

In the Old Testament book of Ezra, chapters 1-3, the Children of Israel (now known as “Jews,”) we’re offered the opportunity by the Persian King, Cyrus, to “Go Back” to Jerusalem after many years of captivity.  It was in captivity that many of them lost their cultural and spiritual foundation; their worship ritual, their language (Hebrew), and their appreciation of and reverence to God.  Out of over 2 million, only approximately 42,000 Jews left with Zerrubabel to, “get away from,” Babylon and, “go back,” to Jerusalem – the City of God for a, “New Start.”

As I was in the sanctuary one morning in mid-December, the Holy Spirit encouraged me by letting me know that my prayers were answered and that Praise Tabernacle would have a new start in 2009.  All of the things that did not go as I expected or desired for the ministry would be as if it were starting afresh.  But, there would need to be a, “going back to,” and a, “getting away from…”  Not going back in the sense of going backwards, regressing, or going back in time, but going back in the sense of re-establishing that which may have been lost or forgotten.  Similar to missing a turn while driving and needing to go back in order to arrive at the right destination. And, getting away from those things or habits, persons, or places that hinder and bind us from being all that God would desires us to be. 

I challenged myself and I asked the members of Praise Tabernacle this question:  What are at least 10 things that we know we need to, “go back to,” and, “get away from,” for a new start?  Perhaps it’s going back to reading the Bible more and getting away from the watching so much television.  Or, going back to spending more time in prayer and getting away from talking so much on the telephone.  And this is one that all pastors can relate to: going back to being faithful in our support of the ministry and getting away from excuses that keep us from helping build the Kingdom of God. 

Just as we all want a new start naturally, God is waiting to “bail us out,” and give His children a new start right now.  Think about it.  Aren’t you ready for a new start, spiritually, financially, emotionally, and physically?  It’s easy.  Just go back to what you know is right and profitable to do and get away from what you know is holding you captive.  You may think it's difficult but that’s exactly what a small remnant of Jews did.