Happy New Year and welcome to 2026.

I can assure you that I did not sit down to write out a message this morning that was tailored to fit around the first day of this new year, filled with platitudes and glowing words of affirmation, hope, and promise. In fact, yesterday’s message kind of caught me off guard with the tone and direction it took with repeated warnings of coming ‘tribulations and trials of testing’s’...if I’m being totally honest.

Shortly after I posted my message yesterday, there was a particular verse that came to mind that had me questioning if I had forgot to include it, but then was impressed to share it with you here and now. It’s the words of Jesus which He shared with His disciples, and it followed shortly after His lesson on the importance of abiding in Him found in John 15:1-8.

“These things I have spoken to you that in Me...you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“in Me...you may have peace...”

As stated repeatedly yesterday, as we saw in multiple verses...”in this world you will have...tribulations...distress...sufferings”

And yet those who are ‘In Christ’ are promised and assured...peace. In fact, this peace is described as ‘perfect...for those whose minds are fixed upon Him’ (Isa. 26:3) as well as a ‘peace that passes all understanding...that will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus...” (Phil. 4:7).

But you have to be ‘in Him’, as ... ‘In Christ’(2 Cor. 5:17), or ‘abiding In Him, and Him in you’. You may even want to think in terms of being ‘in the ark’ (of His presence) like Noah and his family were before the ‘floods’ came.

I know we like to be told ‘smooth and pleasant words’ that lift us up and make us feel good and confident and assured; and those words are plentiful and abundant to those...who are walking in the light as He is in the light (I John 1:7). It’s to those who are not walking in the light...who are overtaken by darkness, and no amount of false promises and ‘smooth words’ can help you...unless you repent and turn to Him (Isa. 30:9-11; 31:6; John 12:35-36). You should also take a look at Mal.2:17 and Jer. 23:16-22, seriously. 

Paul wrote reminding us that it is the ‘goodness/kindness of God that leads us to repentance’ (Rom. 2:4). Do we not appreciate words of warning from anyone who clues us in of impending danger so that we can prepare and find safety from whatever might be coming our way? I know I do. You might read on there in vs. 5-11 and make note of who will find ‘glory, honor, and peace’ and those who will experience ‘indignation, wrath, tribulation and anguish’. And please remember, it’s not the will of God for ‘any to perish but for all to come to repentance’ (2 Pet. 3:9).

Oddly enough, the very first pages I opened up to this morning in my Bible were in Isaiah 32. I found myself reading over some marked passages that spoke to ‘women who are at ease’ and their ‘complacent daughters’ who were told within the year they will be ‘troubled’ (9-11), repeating the warning of ‘trouble for the complacent ones’. Oftentimes, the use of the word ‘women’ is a type or foreshadowing of the ‘church’ (the bride of Christ). You might also jot down Rev. 12:15.

But Isaiah went on there reminding us that “righteousness and peace are in the ‘fruitful field’ where His people can dwell in peaceful habitation and secure dwellings and quiet resting places...”...while ‘hail comes down on the forest and the city is brought low in humiliation’ (16-19). Take from that...what you want.

Yet Jesus promised peace to those who are ‘in Him’. This is where the ‘fruit’ comes from, as we ‘abide in Him’, for ‘apart from Him, we can do nothing’ (John 15:4-5). And we should all know by now: Fruit Matters! (Matt. 3:10; 7:16-27;Luke 13:6-9). Anyone remember the parable of the wheat and tares? (Matt. 13:24-30; 36-43)

My intent today is not to come across as some ‘doomsday prophet’ warning of impending doom and destruction; but I would be lying if I said I was not strongly compelled to once again remind us all of the importance of ‘abiding in Christ’, and to worry less about whether you are ‘saved’ or not. Abiding in Him is everything, and if/when we are abiding in Him, it will be evident by the ‘fruit’ as we will ‘walk as He walked’ (1 John 2:6) and ‘no longer continue to practice sin’ (1 John 3:6) and are also assured the ‘wicked one will not touch us’ (1 John 5:18). Reading through Psalm 91 might be a great chapter to start off the new year if you were hunting for one to wade into.

And if you find yourself asking...’how can I be sure I am abiding in Christ?’...let me again point you to the story we reviewed a few days ago about the rich young ruler and the lesson we learned from his conversation with Jesus. You have to be willing to lay everything down...at His feet. And I mean everything and anything that may reside in your heart that is contrary to His nature and purposes. And don’t worry...He’ll be sure to point those things out to you, just as He did for that young man. Just don’t be like him and turn away because you love your pride more...or your anger or bitterness or greed or your selfishness...etc. You have to come to Jesus with your whole heart. That’s where you find His peace and His joy. And this...is where you find the beginning...of abiding in Him where He begins to lead you and sanctify you and purify your heart.

I have no idea or any indication as to what this new year holds for us, but I sense some ‘changing of the winds’, and feel compelled to check my own heart and to examine myself once again...as to whether I am ‘in the faith and Christ is indeed in me’ (2 Cor. 13:5). The Pharisees were chided by Jesus for being able to discern natural weather patterns, but not... the ‘signs of the times’; don’t be like them (Luke 12:56).

Jesus is still today...the ‘peace in the midst of the storm’. Make sure you are ‘in Him’, and not with all those who simply ‘honor Him with their mouths while their hearts are far from Him’ (Matt.15:8-9)