12/30/2021
Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, and the new year will be welcomed around the world by many as they party, and celebrate, in drunkenness, lewd acts, and other rowdy and worldly activities, but as Christians we “ring in the new year” in a much different way. The festivities for us begin as we welcome the coming year filled with the Holy Spirit, and by thanking God for what He has blessed us with during the past year. We lift up our Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ, in hymns, spiritual songs, singing, music, merrymaking, and by experiencing the intense joy of the Lord as we look forward to what the New Year will bring. This is how we should anticipate the coming year, by being thankful for what has been, and hopeful in what lies ahead, doing all of this as the church bells ring in joy, and celebration.
“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,”
Ephesians 5:18-19 ESV
“Ringing out the old year”, and “ringing in the New Year” are common expressions that we use today, but unfortunately most revealers don’t know their true meaning. These expressions have been hijacked by the world, and their spiritual meaning, to a great extent, has been lost. The original meaning of these phrases had to do with the customary ringing of church bells. At midnight the churches would “ring out the old year” by ringing their bells as if someone had died, and then they would “ring in the new year” with joyful ringing in anticipation of the return of Christ! Listen as we look back to the year 1850 and read this poem written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson…
Ring Out, Wild Bells
By Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1850)
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
So tomorrow on New Year’s Eve as we prepare for our evening festivities, let’s remember how we as the children of God, and as brothers and sisters in Christ, should celebrate the passing of the old year, and the birth of a new. Let’s keep in mind who’s children we are, and celebrate in a manner that is representative of our spirituality by avoiding drunkenness, crude jokes, ungodly activities. Let’s hear the church bells, and remember what we should truly be celebrating. The Bible speaks of many celebrations and feasts, and we are meant to be a happy people, filled with joy, but not doing so in ways that don’t glorify God…
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 KJV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for giving us cause for celebration as we ring out the old year in thanksgiving for your many blessings, and bring music to our ears, and song to our lips, as we ring in a new year… look ever forward to the second coming of your Son Jesus. Hear our New Year prayers, and help us prepare the church, the bride of Christ, to meet Him in faithfulness, purity, and with honor. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who prepares a table before us, fills our glasses, and gives us an escape from all temptation as we celebrate you, and ask that you bless us. Father, you are merciful and your grace abounds; help us to recall our redemption in Christ, and honor you, as we bring glory to your name, even in the midst of our parties, merrymaking, and festivals. Strengthen us in faith as we await the groom, and wash us clean in His blood that we might be worthy of Him, and pleasing to you. Welcome us Father, call us your children, and seat us at your table where your goodness and mercy will follow us, and we will dwell in your house forever.
“I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.”
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ESV
“I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:21-24 ESV
Rich Forbes