By Charles Christmas

The year stretching out before us will be the same for you as it will be for me, except for the details. If we can see the large picture, this will become a help, and the details will become clearer as the year unfolds. If you are willing, I will point out for us the three certainties outlined in the developing scene of our 2013 year. For each of us, our life for 2013 will be a trust, a test and a temporary assignment.

For us, 2013 is a trust. This means that God has entrusted to each of us the same and different things. God entrusts to all of us the same amount of time each day, but we differ in ability, personality, resources, challenges, age, sex, employment, IQ, opportunities, problems, physical infirmities, crises responsibilities, etc. which are entrusted to us. It will be a step of wisdom and a foundation for mental, emotional and spiritual health to accept everything we have, or that comes our way, as a trust from God, or allowed by God. This is the teaching of the entire Bible. You will find this to be true as you take samples from the law, the prophets, the psalms, the life and teachings of Jesus, or from the letters of the New Testament. Life is a trust from God. The Bible confronts us with the question, “What do we have that we did not receive?” 1 Corinthians 4:7

The second certainty is that this year, 2013, will be a test for each one of us. The question that confronts us relates to what we will do with what God entrusts to us as our responsibility. How shall we respond? How shall we react? How shall we face it? The Bible states and promises, “There will be no test that comes our way but what other persons have also faced the same test. God is faithful and will not allow us to be tested beyond that which we are able. He will make a way of escape that we may be able to stand up under the test.” 1 Corinthians 10:13. As we face our different tests, Jesus Christ is the good teacher who is near us to give us the answers and to give us his help.

God’s final test has been simplified into two questions: First, “What have you done with my son who loved you, died for your sins and rose from the dead to be your saviour and your master?” The second question is “What have you done with what I have entrusted to you?” Every one of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

The third certainty of this year is that our life is a temporary assignment. The Book of James reminds us of the brevity and uncertainty of life, and that we have no assurance that we can meet tomorrow’s appointment. This particular emphasis is only meant to encourage us to make the most of every opportunity. Let’s give our best to our Lord and to others: whether it be our last day, week, month, year, decade, or whatever.

—Charles Christmas is a religion columnist for The Clanton Advertiser. His column appears each Thursday.