Dear 2012, You're Not So Big

2012.  A New Year.

Under normal circumstances, I would have put an exclamation point at the end of that,  but not this year.  This year is intimidating.

This year has me spooked.

This year is a little threatening, a thug.

2012, bad attitude and scary facade, let me know quickly that it is not to be toyed with; it will not be ignored or taken lightly.  2012 circles me on its Harley, stopping and messing with me at its pleasure.  Approaching me, loudly kicking up gravel. Death, decay and ignorance trying to be "all that."  Drawing blood and bruises -- brute force with a foul odor.....


I recognize the strength it has, I feel its power.  It is real and vivid and in my face.  But it is deceptive, distracting, directing my attention on the visible world instead of the invisible.

I will not accept the lie of 2012, the visible world.  I will not breathe in its air of despondence, decay and futility of mind with its clamor, contention and beclouded reasoning.  2012 is

"a grotesque parody of the life I know," "jarring me to an alert awareness of the city of God."
(~ Philip Yancey quotes)

This perverse, spiteful object before me has no power over life and death.  I am "hard pressed, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."  The all surpassing power is from God.  This bully, this stinky, abusive thug knows that and wants me to doubt it.

Because that's all he's got.

Oh, 2012, you look fearsome.  But I am in the midst of a triumphal procession, my friend.  A triumphal procession in Christ who, through me, is spreading the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.  For I am, to God, the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those, 2012, like you, who are perishing.  To 2012, I am the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.

Oh, 2012, you look like you are in control here.  But you are captive, deluded, misled.  You stand there fierce with strength and weaponry, but you can't save yourself.  You cannot even say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"

My eyes are fixed not on what is seen, but what is unseen.   For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."

Oh, 2012, you are polluted falsity, reckless and wasteful, bursting with hidden dangers.  Held captive by chains you cannot see.  You need redemption.  You need liberty, recovery, transformation.

Oh, 2012, you could be preaching the gospel to the poor, healing the broken-hearted, proclaiming liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, setting at liberty those who are oppressed!  Instead you are sadly mistaken, impotent and full of rage.  Jesus Christ has prepared the way before me and I declare that this will be the acceptable year of the Lord.