You know how the movie opens. Sparkling notes of the Wildcats,
Gabriella with a book, Troy playing basketball, all is as it should be. In this
unknown location, the “teen party” for New Year’s Eve has begun. (Side note,
have you ever been anywhere that called itself a “teen party”? That may be what
it is, but does anyone actually call it that, ever?) Soon, Troy and Gabriella
are singing their first duet … “This could be the start of something new, it
feels so right to be here with you” … and we are all instantly captivated.
Well, today is not New Year’s Eve. And although it is almost
September, unless you are starting a new school, you probably don’t even want
to think about school right now. And if you are out of school (like me), well
then, work continues just like it did all summer. While I like New Year’s Eve,
I’ve never found anything remotely special about them. Yeah it will only be
12:01am on January 1, 2012 once, it will also only be 3:29pm on August 25, 2012
once as well. And once I got to college and staying up past midnight was not
for fun anymore, the whole New Year’s experience was all but ruined for me. Don’t
get me wrong, I enjoy the parties and noise, but I would be just as happy with
it at 6pm the following day. I say all this to say that the iconic nature of
Troy & Gabriella singing that song on New Year’s Eve makes no difference to
me. But the song is just so catchy…. (it’s okay. It’s playing in my head too.)
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NCV)
"Forget what happened before, and do not think about the
past. Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening.
Don't you see it?”
This is one of my all-time favorite chapters in the Bible. (If you
don’t mind, I’d suggest you go read it now. Then we can walk through it
together.) I can remember spending hours laying on my bed reading and
re-reading and re-reading this chapter as a teenager. There is something so
comforting and loving about this chapter that made me feel like a princess
every time I read it. “I have called you by name, you are mine” (verse 1), “Because
you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you” (verse 4), “Fear not,
for I am with you” (verse 5) “You are my witness and my servant whom I have
chosen” (verse 10), “I am the Lord, your King” (verse 15). Although this was
not originally written TO me, I often feel like it was. If you read carefully,
you can see how the Lord is talking to the people of Israel, bringing back
memories of the Exodus from Egypt and the many miracles He performed on their
behalf, but it speaks so much to my own life. When life gets overwhelming, this
is the chapter I turn to so I know I’m not alone in the madness.
But then, right around verse 18, the mood of the chapter changes a
bit. See the beginning was all a reminder of everything that God was and is to
His people, all the things He did for them and how He has proved to be a
faithful friend and provider and God. But then verse 18 starts this emphasis
not on God’s part, but on the people’s role in this relationship. It seems that
the Israelites often got so consumed with what God had done in the past, that
they neglected to maintain an ongoing relationship with their God once they
were no longer in that mindset. Verse 22 goes on to speak of how the people had
forgotten about God and their responsibilities in worship. They got so lazy
that they wanted God to do everything for them. But this was not okay. And in
our lives, this is not okay.
For church kids, the summer often bring about emotional &
spiritual highs. Youth camp, missions trips, even times of intense personal
devotion bring us closer to God in ways that we never thought possible. People,
young and old, are often liberated from sins and distractions in times like
these; their Exodus experience if you will. Times in your life and mine when
God shows up in big ways and makes Himself known. And these times are amazing
and life changing and awesome. But that’s not the end of the spiritual journey.
As society heads back into more routine for the fall, it’s not okay to live off
of those spiritual highs throughout the year.
Isaiah 43:18 "Forget what happened before, and do not think
about the past.”
I hate to break it to you, but what happened at youth camp is not all
that important if the work that God started in you then is not continuing now.
And it is God’s work to continue, but the verses that follow this one remind us
of our responsibility in this work. You have an obligation to continue in your
worship, even if the worship band is not playing. You have an obligation to
keep praying, even if the altar is not open. You have an obligation to keep
serving, even if it’s not half way around the world. You have an obligation to
keep repenting, even if no person is prompting you.
As we begin this new minute of life, let’s continue to strive for God
as He continues to work in us. See, this could be the start of something new…
