CROSS OVER TO A NEW LIFE

WISHES 

"If wishes were horses everyone would ride" - this is an age-old adage. But since wishes are not horses, most new year resolutions end up in the trash cans  Meanwhile, new year good wishes have long become just a seasonal formality. 

There are four sources of good wishes -  personal wishes, received wishes, prophetic wishes, biblical wishes (God's promises). But for any (or all) of these wishes to materialize the recipient needs to  do, at least, three things - conceive a plan, take action and obtain God's grace or favor. That's why the scripture says, "For you can do nothing without me" (John 15:5); while another scripture says, "Everything is possible for God" (Mark 10:27).

Now you can understand why your last new year resolutions have become dead letters. You did not only formulate for yourself, but you also received countless good wishes from family and friends, prophecies from the many "men of God", and claimed many promises from the Bible. But you, probably, missed out on one or all of the three essentials - plan, action and grace. For, truly truly, wishes without plans,  plans without actions, and actions without grace; are like building castles in the air, where no one but your mind can dwell. 

This is why I am calling  your attention and faithfulness to the  following steps, which are necessary  for you to cross over from where you are to where you wish to be. Then  2022 will not just be, for you, another  new  year, but a different and new life, altogether. Now, follow me: "You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." (John 8 :32) 

SCRIPTURES 

The following carry God's promises, and the means and acts of deliverance, breakthrough, victory and fulfillment in the Old Testament. 

"The Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out for help? Tell the people to move forward. Lift up your walking stick and hold it out over the sea. The water will divide, and the Israelites will be able to walk through the sea on dry ground." (Exodus 14:15-16) 

MOSES LIFTED UP HIS STICK AND THE RED
SEA  DIVIDED FOR THE JEWS TO CROSS OVER 

"I myself will prepare your way, leveling mountains and hills.I will break down bronze gates and smash their iron bars. I will give you treasures from dark, secret places;  then you will know that I am the Lord, and that the God of Israel has called you by name". (Isaiah 45:2-3)

"The Lord said to Moses, “Hold out your hand over the sea, and the water will come back over the Egyptians and their chariots and drivers.” (Exodus 14:26)

 CONCURRENCES 

Because the Old Testament of the Bible is fulfilled in its New Testament (Matthew 5:17), it is important for Christians to know the concurrences of Old Testament scriptures in the New Testament; in order to understand how the promises of God are fulfilled in our own days. The following scriptures of the New Testament concur with, and fulfill to perfection, God's promises and actions of deliverance in the Old Testament. 

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior." (John 3:16-17)

"Jesus again gave a loud cry and breathed his last. Then the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split apart, the graves broke open, and many of God's people who had died were raised to life. They left the graves, and after Jesus rose from death, they went into the Holy City, where many people saw them".(Matthew 27:50-53) 

"God forgave us all our sins; he canceled the unfavorable record of our debts with its binding rules and did away with it completely by nailing it to the cross. And on that cross Christ freed himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities; he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession" (Colossians 2:14-15). 

In the light of these scriptural concurrences you understand clearly that: the stick of Moses is the Cross of Jesus Christ;  the red of the Red Sea is the blood of Jesus Christ ; the Red Sea stands for trials, challenges and obstacles;  the Word of God is Jesus Christ; the Egyptians are Satan, demons and all their afflictions they cause;  Egypt is the situation of sin, slavery and misery; Canaan is  the situation of holiness, freedom and abundance; the desert is paganism and lack of grace;  the water is both the Holy Spirit and baptism of the Church; and the road is Jesus Christ. 

JESUS CHRIST WAS LIFTED UP ON THE CROSS TO SAVE THE WORLD 

 RETROSPECT 

Having received, above, the promises of God for your deliverance, breakthrough and fulfillment in life; it is left to you to  collaborate by  faith, prayer and action to get what you are promised. But beforev  you get there, you need to take a retrospect of your own life. The Israelites had been in Egypt for 430 years (Exodus 22:40) before God sent Moses to go and bring them out ((Exodus 3:10) 22:40). Where have you been since you were born, and where are you today? What were your sins, weaknesses, troubles, afflictions, temptations, challenges, barriers and obstacles. 

ANALYSIS 

It is by knowing where you are - and where you are coming from, why or how you went there, what you were doing there, and how long you have been there, that you may plan well and act rightly to get out of there. 

Therefore, you need to do a thorough analysis of your situation - identifying the causes and consequences, as well as your barriers and limitations. Pray and ask God to reveal yourself to you - for God knows you better than you do ( Jeremiah 1:4-5).

 PROSPECTS 

Having done your analysis, do not condemn yourself, no matter how miserable or hopeless your situation may be - for God has not condemned you (Romans 8:33-34). There is no sin that God can not forgive, there is no situation that God can not change, and there is no bondage that God cannot break. As the scripture says, " For there is nothing that God can not do" (Luke 1:37).

Rather, look forward with great expectations - hoping and trusting in God. For, as the scripture says, "No one who hopes in the Lord shall be disappointed" (Isaiah 49:23). You can capitaluze on the lessons you learn from your failures and mistakes. And with God (Mark 10:27) you can turn your disappointments into appointments, your limitations into breakthrough, and your obstacles into stepping stones 

According to God's plan, the  Israelites crossed the Red Sea on their way to the promised land in Canaan. You, where are you moving to? Are you ready to follow God's plan for you, and act according to his will? Now follow me - "You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free" (John 8:32). 

 STRATEGIES

What are your plans for 2022, and how do you want to achieve them? The LORD says, "I alone know the plans I have for you" (Jeremiah 29:11); and he also says, "I myself will prepare a way for you" (Isaiah 45:2).  Now the, scripture says, "When God  took the people of Israel out of Egypt, he led them away through a roundabout road so that they will not be able to go back to Egypt, when they find out that they have to fight their enemies" (Exodus 13:17-18). 

Are you willing to follow the ways of God or you want to map out your own way? Do you want to take the long, but sure and safe way ; or you want to follow the shortcut,  which is full of mischief and danger? 

Of course, following the ways of God does not mean that you should not think or qcreate. No, you have to employ your creativity and experience in your plans and actions (Hebrews 5:13-14). But submit your creativity to your conscience, and after inventing your plan also submit to God for approval. For your inventions or plans may be positive but still not God's will for you. Thus, the LORD says, "You will come and pray to me, and I will answer you " (Jeremiah 29:12) 

You can see that scammers, for example, are very creative and smart but their plans are not with God. Do not forget that success without God is just the beginning of failure. Many young people, today, are losing both their lives and eternal life, because they want to take shortcuts and arrive fast - be careful! 

Following the ways of God does not also mean that you you will not face obstacles. No, Jesus Christ said, "Whoever wants to be my disciple should take up his Cross and follow me" (Luke 9:23). Are you ready to fight and overcome the challenges of your life, or you are looking for a life without hitches - a crossless Christianity? The truth is that challenges strengthen and uplift those who persevere. And the Good News is this:  "The LORD will fight for you, and all you have to do is keep still" - that is, believe and persevere (Exodus 14:14). 

 ACTIONS

When you have finished planning with God, then it is time to also act with God. As the scriptures say: "Moses held out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind. It blew all night and turned the sea into dry land. The water was divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on both sides." (Exodus 14: 21-22). 

" So Moses held out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the water returned to its normal level. The Egyptians tried to escape from the water, but the Lord threw them into the sea. The water returned and covered the chariots, the drivers, and all the Egyptian army that had followed the Israelites into the sea; not one of them was left. On that day the Lord saved the people of Israel from the Egyptians, and the Israelites saw them lying dead on the seashore." (Exodus 14:27-28, 30)

When God commanded, Moses acted and God accomplished his promise to cross over the Israelites through the Red Sea to the promised land. Then, in order to fulfill and perfect the works of Moses, God made incarnate his Word in Jesus Christ - and the scriptures say: "Then he took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.” (Luke 22:19). And also,  "Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) 

Now are you ready to act in your Faith to obtain the promises of God to you?  Fellow Christians and beloved Catholics, stop searching for God in the wilderness, whereas God is with us; stop looking for solutions elsewhere, whereas the solution is with us. Follow me - "You will Know the Truth and the Truth will set you free" (John 8 :32).

First of all: receive baptism of water and the Holy Spirit (John 3:5),  then believe (John 3:16) and take authority (Mark 16:17-18) in the Word of God  to act (James 2:24) in faith and prayers. Now this is the mystery:  As true as Moses lifted his stick over the Red Sea, so it is true that Christ was lifted up on Cross; and as true as Christ was lifted up on the Cross, so it is true that the Body of Christ is lifted up on the Altar of the Holy Mass - because he said, "This is my body which is given up for you, do this in memory of me (Luke 22:19).

CHRIST IS LIFTED UP IN THE HOST TO FULFILL THE PROMISES OF HIS SALVATION 

Therefore, when the Celebrant lifts up the Host over the Alter at the Holy Mass (or in the Monstrance at the Eucharistic Adoration), that' is the time  to crossover, to  overcome, to accomplish, and to breakthrough. It is the time to hand over your over your sins, weaknesses, challenges, obstacles, battles, limitations, needs, plans, etc to Jesus Christ  - who is both the victim and host of the Holy Mass. He is the only one to cross you over to a new life. (Acts 4:11-12). Unite with the Celebrant in meditation and prayer - be an actor and not a spectator at Mass. For, the Lord says,"You will come and pray to me, and I will answer you " (Jeremiah 29:12) .

Stand your grounds (grounds of faith) and you will see what the Lord will do for you (Exodus 14:13-14). If you your plan is not the right one, God will not only give you his own plan, but a better one (Jeremiah 29:11-12).  Then you will hear your enemy say, "The Lord is fighting on his side, let me get out of his way" (Exodus 14:25). And when your enemies are crushed and your predicaments brought to an end (Exodus 14:28, 30),  you  will stand in wonderment of God and believe in the Catholic Church (Exodus 14:31).

This is the way to crossover, breakthrough and fulfillment in life. Then after the Eucharistic Sacrifice eat the bread of life (John 6:35). For at the breaking of the Bread, Christ reveals himself to those who are looking for him (Luke 24:30-31) There is no other miracle else where, except from the false prophets (Matthew 24:24) - but which will surely land you in hell fire. Now that you have known the  Truth (John 8:32), may  you be really free (John 8:36).; Amen. 

That is why it will be proper for you to do your sacramental confession before attending the new year virgil Mass on December 31, and other Eucharistic celebrations..  For , it is most profitable to attend Holy Mass in a state of grace, ie free from any accusations of sins. 

 FULFILLMENT 

Yes, you need money, material things, and and earhly or bodily pleasures to some degrees. But do not forget that real and lasting fulfillment is found in Christ and not in the things of world. Thus, the scriptures say: "I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “Those who come to me will never be hungry; those who believe in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35). And, also say: "The peace I give you, the world cannot give" (John 14:27)

So eat Holy Communion - the bread of life (John 6:35) - as the Israelites ate manna from heaven (Numbers 11:6)  -  adore Jesus Christ regularly in the Blessed Sacrament; and your life will be fulfilled 

CONTINUITY 

Finally, you can only maintain your deliverance, victory and fulfillment in life, if you remain  with Christ - in him and for him 

So the scripture says '"Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me.  “I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me." (John 15:4-5).

And another scripture says : "Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God. Instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the Lord, and they study it day and night.They are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time,  and whose leaves do not dry up.They succeed in everything they do." (Psalm 1:1-3).

Let us pray :

 O, Lord, open our minds to understand the deep mysteries of your Church (Luke 24:45), so that we may live our faith in full to receive the salvation you gave us in the one and holy Catholic Church (Matthew 16:18-19). AMEN. 

And may we all live a fulfilled and happy new life in Christ Jesus, our Lord !  AMEN. 

 Author Aying Godman is a Catechist, Evangelist and Writer of the Roman Catholic Church in Cameroon. E-mail : ayinggodman@gmail.com 

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