IT HAS BEEN A GREAT YEAR!
We are rapidly approaching the conclusion of 2025. Reflection on its content brings an abundance of joyful memories, as well as the heartache of sorrowful realities. It is called “life.” If our review of this year is confined to the temporal realm, then we may well agree with Solomon’s appraisal of “vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” However, if we focus on the spiritual (which is always the way of the righteous), we find ourselves abundantly blessed.
We at Orleans hosted two gospel meetings in 2025. Because we used various speakers for both efforts, we heard eleven different gospel preachers during those two weeks. We heard sixteen sermons from God’s word. We enjoyed the fellowship of dozens of souls from other congregations of the family of God. What blessings those opportunities were to us!
With fifty-two weeks in a year, we had fifty-two opportunities for Bible study, and one hundred eight opportunities to learn from gospel sermons. Additionally, though health reasons cancelled a few, we had no less than forty-five Tuesday morning Bible studies, and at least that many Wednesday night assemblies for study. While no one can exhaust the content of God’s word, we can say through these efforts we ceased not to preach the whole counsel of God! What a blessing!
We also hosted a gospel singing that lasted more than two hours! Nearly thirty psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs taught and admonished a full house of souls. The weather prevented us from having this singing in the town square, where we had intended to prove more publicly our zeal for the Lord, but we were pleased with the results of this effort. If the Lord wills, plans are already progressing to have another one in 2026. Again, a great blessing!
Yes, we have had our challenges as well. But as we studied during a month-long series, “OVERCOMING ADVERSITY” is part of being a Christian (2 Timothy 3:12). Remember the five “rules” of overcoming adversity? First, remember God is trustworthy. Second, find the scriptures that deal with your adversity (how to overcome it) and follow the inspired directive. 3. Focus on the positive. 4. Thank God for the blessings. 5. Remove the negativity. The challenges/adversities of life should strengthen our faith in God’s truth as we count the blessing of God’s promise: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37)
We have seen baptisms this year. What a grand and glorious sight to see a soul come forth from the watery grave of baptism, rising to walk in newness of life with Christ! (Romans 6:1-6) We have rejoiced at the return of souls once wayward in their lives. What humility it generates in all of us to see and hear the repentance of one who was lost and is now found! Strengthening has come to us from the examples of the faithful (Hebrews 6:11-12). And we have experienced the unfeigned love of one another as we have endeavored to bear one another’s burdens, fulfilling the law of Christ. (1 Peter 1:17-25; Galatians 6:2)
Granted, some will focus their attention on the negative of 2025 and complain that little to nothing has changed. May I suggest that those of such ilk consider involving themselves in fostering righteousness and stop complaining? Complaints stifle the inspired commandment written in every chapter of Paul’s letter to Philippi, viz. “Rejoice evermore!”
Yes, in our eyes, it has been a great year for the Lord! Could it have been better? Yes, but none of us can go back and redo what time has banished from our grasp. We need to remember the consequence of Lot’s wife (Luke 17:32; Genesis 19). If God permits us to enter 2026, we, the faithful, must determine to stay focused on serving Him faithfully, without compromise, and with prayer that our diligence increases to His honor and glory! Even if we do all that God commands of us (and anything less admits to shirking our duty!), we are still unprofitable servants, for we have done our duty (Luke 17:10). This results in much more than a great year … it results in eternal life with our Lord!