| The Glory of the Common Life |
Chapter 16 |
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Then God is also the God of all time. “Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations… Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” Two friends set out, side by side, at the beginning of a year, hoping to walk together to the year’s end, but they are not sure that they will. Their fellowship may continue, but many set out together who do no complete the year in company. One is taken and the other left. We are sure, however, that nothing can interrupt our walk with God. The great Companion cannot die. Though our earthly life ends, we still shall be with God. Nothing can separate us from him.
This is a sweet thought for a new year that we go through it with God. The sentiment is devout and fitting. Whether we do it conscientiously and reverently, or without thought, unconsciously, we shall certainly go through the year with God. We cannot help it. We cannot get away from him. The atheist thought to teach his child his own negation of belief and wrote for her, “God is nowhere.” But the child spelled out the words and in her own simplicity made them read, “God is now here.” We cannot get away from God any hour of the year, whatever we may do. It is better, however, that we go through the year consciously with God. Then we shall experience continually the joy of his presence, the inspiration of his love, and the guidance of his hand.
We write in our letters, Anno Domini, “In the year of our Lord.” There is something very beautiful and suggestive in this. Our years are all really years of our Lord. We should make them so indeed – years of Christ. This means that we should remember they are his – not the world’s, not ours, but Christ’s. Only he should be permitted to direct us; all the work we do should be for him, and all our life we should live to get his approval. Thus we shall make the years in fact as they are in name, years of our Lord.
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