“The Preservative for 2026” ~ ✨
What immense grace it is for Christians living in the world today to witness the grace of God, who has fashioned us in Christ!
As we enter a new year, many believers see it as a fresh beginning. Renewal can encompass two aspects: first, taking what we have done well in the past and striving to reach an even higher level; second, addressing what we have done poorly or wrongly, aiming at doing better or correcting our mistakes. The “inner self being renewed day by day” that the Apostle Paul speaks of (2 Corinthians 4:16) depends on our born-again life, hidden with Christ in God, enabling us to commune with Him daily and be renewed each day because of Him.
Paul also says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Being a new creation does not refer to how much a person has changed to qualify as one; rather, it means that as long as one is in Christ, he is a person within the new creation. The former person of the old creation lived in Adam, with thoughts and actions in the flesh. Now, within the new creation are those who live in Christ, whose thoughts and actions are in the Spirit. The believer’s connection in life with the Lord Christ allows Christ’s life essence to become our essence, so that it may be manifested through us, resulting in praise for the glory of God’s grace!
Living in this historic moment, the role and responsibility of Christians is even more crucial and urgent. Over the past year, we have seen political disputes between nations continue to ferment, and fires of conflict ignited by cultural and religious clashes remain unextinguished. We see that in some countries, “people fighting against people” has not ceased, and it is feared that in the near future, “nation rising against nation” will also occur successively. Daily climate changes and nightly international tensions make it truly difficult for people to have peace. The world is filled with all sorts of problems and wounds… We know that all problems and wounds arise from human sin; sin separates people from God and causes discord among people. Let us not expect the world to become better; it will not only fail to improve but will instead grow increasingly worse.
Residing in this ever-decaying world, facing turbulent global situations and various unsolvable problems close at hand, our minds can easily fixate on these phenomena, allowing worry and even fear to surge in relentlessly. Precisely because of this, we also easily forget God’s word. If we forget God’s word, it is like losing the lamp for our feet and the light for our path; then we would be no different from the people of the world, all living in darkness. The light fails to be light and instead lives plunged into darkness; the salt fails to be salt and instead becomes part of the strife.
Amidst the unease of worry and fear, some among us seek the peace offered by the world. For example: fearing the COVID-19 virus, they rush for booster after booster shot; fearing the flu virus, they get vaccinated against both influenza A and B; fearing the adenovirus, they get the adenovirus vaccine… People think that through an all-encompassing strategy, medicine will bring peace. But if things don’t go as hoped, where else can they turn for a safety net? God’s word is our true preservative! Forgetting God’s word means forgetting that His promises are for those who believe. The Lord Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).
From the creation of heaven and earth and the creation of humanity until now, God has always cared for us. In all His creation, He saw that it was very good (Genesis 1:31). Alas, sin has made the world foul and chaotic; all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). God gave His only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to save sinners. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1); furthermore, He brings us from darkness to light, from chaos to peace. Now, we walk the path of Christ, live the truth of Christ, and proclaim the life of Christ. Through Christ, we can come before our Father God at any time and place, asking for more grace and greater peace.
God is a faithful God; it is often people who are unfaithful. Those who are blown by the wind, double-minded, will only be like a wheel off its axle—thrown into disarray and disorientation. Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power (Hebrews 1:1-3); He upholds the universe and He upholds us. God declares the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose’ (Isaiah 46:10). Yet, our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases (Psalm 115:3). His thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways his ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are his ways higher than our ways and his thoughts than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). Now, through Jesus Christ, God has revealed His will to the world; He is the God who cares for us.
If we have faith, we should hold onto it before God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves (Romans 14:22). If we face trials of various kinds, we must go through the testing by faith. Losing faith is like a wheel off its axle, a sheep straying from the flock. All testing is unpleasant, and suffering is unavoidable. But God cares for us, calling us to cast all our anxieties on him (1 Peter 5:7).
We do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes (James 4:14). Today we plan to run off to a foreign country that seems better in our sight to live; tomorrow we plan to do this or that… The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps (Proverbs 16:9). Let us not forget to often remind ourselves, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:15).
So, living in the turbulent last days, what should we do? Micah 6:8 gives us light: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” If we walk with God, what is there to fear? With a devout attitude and conduct, let us proclaim the gospel, testifying that only the gospel enables people to live in hope; with hope, there is true peace. If we can fully rely on God, our peace will not diminish; on the contrary, amidst difficulties and adversity, we will feel even more that the Lord’s power is made perfect. This is not to say that with the Lord present, our problems cease to exist. It is to say that with the Lord present, His power works within us, enabling us to remain in His peace even in the midst of tribulation.
I conclude this sharing with this poem👇🏻
“The Preservative” ✨
Peace of old now calls to me
Today’s heart-guard lies in tranquility
Living in the present, placing hope ahead
Why fear the sweeping pestilence’s dread?
✨✨💖 ~
en yan hua fang 