End of the Year
"That Christ may Dwell in your Hearts by Faith" (Ephesians 3:17)
A year is about to end and a new year is about to start. Let us check ourselves before we stand in front of the seat of judgment. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad," 2 Corinthians 5:10. We check ourselves to see if we are on the right road or not. Feedback is important to achieve success and progress. It is essential thing for our spiritual life as St. Paul says: "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup," 1 Corinthians 11:28. "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged," 1 Corinthians 11:31. "But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another," Galatians 6:4. "Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord," Lamentation 3:40.
The sayings of the fathers have similar quotes about sitting to examine our souls on daily basis. St. Anthony the Great said: "Don't count the day in which you do not sit with yourself, among the days of your life." Don't waste the days of your life. We shall give account on the days that are given to us from God. The time is precious and we should not waste it but use it wisely. Especially at the end of the year, let us have overall picture for the year that passed from our life and the whole life before and do some evaluations and have a plan for the coming year.
The children of this world evaluate any project by doing research and looking at statistics. The organizations ask the supervisors to evaluate their employees. Do we do the same and be wise in our spiritual life? There may be slight variations everyday that we do not recognize. At the end of the year let us compare our spiritual life to that at the start of the year. The Lord Christ tells the angel of the church of Ephesus: "Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: "These things says He that holds the seven stars in His right hand, Who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you cannot bear them, which are evil, and you have tried them, which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars. And you have borne, and had patience, and for My name's sake you have labored, and have not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love. Remember therefore from whence you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent," Revelation 2: 1-5.
Here are 3 steps: remember, repent, and do. The man may have a good fiery heated start, but may gradually cools down and do works mechanically without love. This situation is a set back and needs repentance as the Lord said in Revelation 2: 1-5. Any deed without love does not benefit anything, 1 Corinthians 13:3.
The Lord said to the angel of the church of Sardis: "And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write: "These things says He that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars. I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things, which remain, that are ready to die. For I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you," Revelation 3: 1-3.
Here are the steps: remember, hold fast, and repent.
If it happened that we get confused or lack vision, let us remember what we received and heard. We have received the faith and the spiritual life from our fathers and we must hold fast to them. Let us repent if we are astray and lack vision. This is the passive side.
The positive way is not to look backward to our previous struggle and works. The important thing is the end of something. "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversations," Hebrew 13:7. "Brothers, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus," Philippians 3: 13-14. St. Paul forgets his former labor and look for more in the future. If we look backward to our deeds, we may fall in self-satisfaction. We did not reach the end yet. This feeling sets us backward. St Antony recommends that we walk in the struggle as if we have just started.
Let us measure ourselves not by our own measures but according to the measure of the Bible. "But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God has distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you," 2 Corinthians 10:13.
Let us find out what we seek and what we pursue. Do we look for materialistic success, more possessions, mental or physical health, and success in our work, social life, and family life? All of that may not be a success. Joshua son of Sirach said: "There is the person who finds misfortune a boon, and the piece of luck that turns to loss" Sirach 20:9.
The materialistic success may bring spiritual loss as Solomon the wise says: "Two things have I required of You. Deny me them not before I die. Remove far from me vanity and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with food convenient for me. Lest I be full and deny You, and say: "Who is the Lord? Or lest I will be poor and steal and take the name of My God in vain," Proverbs 30: 7-9.
God knows the limits that keep us in a healthy spiritual life. We must thank Him and do not ask for changes in our daily life. God knows immeasurably more than us what is good for us. The Lord Jesus taught us to pray saying: "Give us today our daily bread," Matthew 6:11 and Luke 11:3. It is important to ask for the bread of life. "Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for the meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you. For Him has God the Father sealed," John 6:27.
Let us seek that Christ dwell in our hearts and reign completely. If the source of all goodness dwells in your heart, would you need anything else?
Copyright © 2006 Saint Antony Coptic Orthodox Monastery, California, U.S.A. The above article may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of Saint Antony Coptic Orthodox Monastery, California, U.S.A. |
