by Pastor Patrick Cho

Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe another year has gone by so quickly. Perhaps for some, 2011 will go down in history as the year we witnessed the passing of some infamous world leaders like Osama bin Laden, Moammar Gadhafi, and Kim Jong Il. For others, it may be remembered for great sports achievements like the Green Bay Packers’ Super Bowl victory or the St. Louis Cardinals’ World Series championship. As the song “Auld Lang Syne” goes, it is good to think back and remember fond memories and the experiences of the past.

At Lighthouse, 2011 may be remembered for weddings and babies (much like almost any other year!). It could be remembered as the year we celebrated with the LBC San Jose church plant for their inaugural services (1/30) or the first joint missions trip with LBCSJ to the Czech Republic. Perhaps it will be remembered for the All-Church Retreat with Dr. Ernie Baker, or the acquisition of the church van. However you remember the past year, it would be good to take some time to give thanks to God for all He has carried us through as a church.

The New Year is also a time for making resolutions. While the typical goals people set for themselves usually end up in failure and discouragement, some spiritual goals should always be in pursuit with great perseverance and diligence. As we usher in the New Year as a church, we must not rest on past laurels but to look forward in faith and continue to press on towards the goal of knowing Christ.

It was an old tradition in England to ring church bells on midnight of New Year’s Eve to symbolize the passing of another year. Then, just as the bell tolled for the old year, another bell would ring to usher in the New Year. This serves as a fitting illustration of what Paul writes in Philippians 3:13. Even though Paul had incredible religious credentials, he understood that nothing he had achieved benefitted him at all when it came to his conversion. He understood that he did not possess a righteousness of his own through his adherence to the Law. Rather than boasting about his achievements and basking in his accomplishments, Paul put those things out of mind and pressed on towards the goal of knowing Christ.

Paul simplified the Christian faith to that one idea of knowing Jesus. It was his life ambition through the help of the Holy Spirit to know Christ more and more with each day. Everything else was rubbish in comparison. I can only imagine what strength the church would gain if this year its members focused like Paul on this one goal. It is so easy to be distracted by the busyness of the daily grind that spiritual things get drowned out. It is even easy to get sidetracked by the busyness of ministry itself so that we focus on the activity instead of the devotion.

While 2011 had its share of memorable events and there were significant moments that helped promote spiritual growth and propagate Christian love and service, hopefully this next year will be known even more so for our drive as a church to further know Jesus and grow in Him. As we strive for discipline in His Word, in prayer, and in Christian service, we will see greater maturity in faith and closer relationship with Him. That is a worthy resolution not only for the New Year, but for all of life in general.