Ships That Never Sail and a Deadline

Only a few days remain in our calendar year 2025. Of course, with the ending of one calendar year, a New Year (2026) will begin the next day. These days of transition are when we tend to evaluate the condition of our lives and lay plans for how we are going to improve in the next year.

The term "New Year's Resolutions" becomes a catch phrase during these days. There are two aspects to "New Year's Resolutions." The first aspect is to try and remember the resolutions we made last year. Sometimes we have difficulty even recalling the ones of the previous year. If we do remember them, how did we do? Often our commitments to lose weight and to begin exercising fell by the wayside in mid to late January. The second aspect of resolutions is the making of new ones for the coming year. Too often they are simply a repeat of the ones that we failed to complete or even start from the previous year.

As I think through this ritual for myself, two passages of Scripture come to mind. The first one is a verse in a passage briefly summarizing Jehoshaphat's twenty-five year reign as King of Judah. Jehoshaphat followed his father Asa's reign of forty-one years. The Scriptures state that Asa did what was right in the Lord's eyes and then that Jehoshaphat followed his father by also doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. Neither Asa nor Jehoshaphat were perfect but they sought to follow God's instructions. Then in 1 Kings 22:48, as the Scriptures summarize Jehoshaphat's reign as king, these words appear:

"Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold,

but they did not go, for the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber."

Why is this verse significant in looking to the future. Jehoshaphat found that he needed help in making the building of a fleet of ships happen. He chose to make an alliance with Ahaziah, the son of Ahab, who was King of Israel. The Scriptures describe Ahaziah like it also describes his father Ahab as one who did evil in the sight of the Lord. The venture planned by Jehoshaphat failed because he partnered with a man of evil rather than trusting in and following the Lord.

PRINCIPLE #1 ABOUT RESOLUTIONS: Make sure that your plans and resolutions are led and honoring of God. Men may lead you away from God's purposes in an attempt to only honor and reward themselves. Alliances with evil only result in failure that dishonors God and His purposes.

The second passage of Scripture that comes to mind when making resolutions is found in Paul's second letter to Timothy. The context finds Paul imprisoned in Rome. He knows that he has little time left before he will be executed. But he makes some specific requests in this letter that will be of help to him. He asks Timothy to come soon. 2 Timothy 4:13 and verse 21 clarify Paul's requests.

13 "When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas,

also the books, and above all the parchments."

21 "Do your best to come before winter."

Paul was feeling deserted by some that had been his supporters. He wants the books and parchments probably to reread the Scriptures to both strengthen his own resolve and to also share with the guards and fellow prisoners. The cloak is understandable because it will provide warmth and comfort during the seasonal weather changes. The second request was simply to come before winter. That makes sense because the cloak will provide some warmth, but more importantly, winter travel was almost prohibitive. If Timothy didn't come soon, it was possible that Paul would already have been executed.

PRINCIPLE #2 ABOUT RESOLUTIONS: There are times that contain deadlines. If a task or assignment is not completed within that time frame, it is no longer valid. What God wants done through our lives must never be subject to procrastination.

If you are working on a list of resolutions or a plan for the future, realize that your list and plans need to be under the direction of the Lord and not your own dreams or plans. The Lord must be your leader and partner, and time is important.

May this week of ending 2025 and entering 2026 be one that the Lord makes clear His plans and direction for each aspect of your life. Give thanks for what God has done in your life in 2025 and pray for faith to follow each of His plans for you in 2026.

HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR'S