Pursuing ‘clearer vision’ in final months of 2020
By Amy Hacker
theropetab.com
The end of 2020 is fast approaching and what a year! We’ve seen things this year that we haven’t seen before.
Everyone is now wearing masks, we’ve had a toilet paper shortage, a coin shortage and I do recall something about murder hornets. (Thankfully I’ve never encountered one of them.)
If anyone can remember, 2020 was supposed to be the year of “clearer vision” — like 20/20 vision. It was such a great idea.
We were going to tackle 2020 like a boss and nothing could stop us. Until it did.
It was like someone slammed on the emergency brakes and everything we knew came to a halt.
The excitement at the beginning of the year turned to chaos and had me wishing for the year’s quick demise. Our vision of 2020 suddenly changed. What we knew to be true wasn’t true anymore.
Churches and businesses closed, people lost their jobs or their positions changed dramatically and many people lost loved ones.
Everything was and still is completely different than it was last year. But if you are beginning to lose hope, please don’t.
Remember God’s promise in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”
God knew 2020 would happen. It didn’t surprise Him. The chaos of this year will never change the truth of Romans 8:28.
We can still have that “clearer vision” in the year of 2020. We can still accomplish great things even though we face difficult and changing circumstances.
We can give more; we can love more. We can show grace and mercy to people who might not “deserve” it. We can be the Jesus that others need to see — the hope for those who have lost theirs.
Every day is a new day — we can turn it around. 2020 isn’t over. Let’s finish like a boss!
EDITOR’S NOTE — Amy Hacker is a regular contributor to The Rope, a blog for college students and young professionals. Amy serves with TAB Media as creative services associate. To read more from The Rope, visit theropetab.com.
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Letters to the Editor
Special thanks to Grace Thornton for her excellent article about my friend, Calhoun Baptist Association Director of Missions Roger Willmore and the Keswick Ministry.
Willmore was my pastor at Locust Fork Baptist Church and Deerfoot Baptist Church, Trussville, prior to his current assignment.
His mentor, Stephen Olford, introduced Billy Graham to a Keswick Convention in 1946.
Roger was instrumental in bringing Olford to preach and conduct Keswick Conventions at Locust Fork Baptist Church more than 40 years ago, and I was honored to be a part of the team.
We also participated in a number of the “Keswicks” in Birmingham. Keswick’s theme “All One in Christ Jesus” has been a cornerstone in my personal faith.
Brice F. Marsh
Trussville, Ala.
I am so touched, Jennifer, by the shifting of the My Rashionale editorial in the Oct. 22 issue to allow Carrie McWhorter to share about her dad. Tears and memories certainly surfaced.
Morris Murray Jr.
Jasper, Ala.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Let us hear your feedback about the special-edition Fruitful magazine you should be receiving this week.
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Director of communications
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TAB board member
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Sales representative
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The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.
Psalm 46:11
Not only does the Bible place high value on knowing the truth, it goes a step further in advising us both to believe the truth (2 Thess. 2:13) and to speak the truth (Eph. 4:25). And it goes even deeper. We are individually to be established in the truth as a foundation for life (2 Pet. 1:12). We are to wear the truth as a belt that girds our lives (Eph. 6:14).
Jerry Batson
Nov. 5 Theology 101
We should not fail to acknowledge what a remarkable thing it is that we get to vote. It is a precious freedom won and defended at great cost. We dare not presume upon the freedoms we enjoy. Indeed, for Christians, our concern must be one of stewardship unto the Lord, as we seek to leverage those freedoms for the glory of His name, animated by the love of neighbor.
Matthew J. Hall
Provost, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
A believer, held in balance by the presence of Jesus and not tossed by the chaos of our culture, is a precious treasure.
Bob Adams
Retired pastor
Who can heal our nation?
Not a politician.
Not a political party.
Not a president.
Not a government agency.
Not a state.
Not an educator.
Not an entertainer.
Not a preacher.
Not a celebrity.
Not an athlete.
Not a leader.
Not a church.
Each is important. Not one is imperative. Only Jesus can heal our nation. Only Jesus can heal relationships. America is broken. Each of us is broken.
Jesus is the answer. He always has been, and He always will be. While being our only solution, Jesus is never our problem. America needs Jesus. The world also needs Jesus.
Therefore, go tell. Now is the time to lead.
Ronnie Floyd
President and CEO, SBC Executive Committee
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From the Twitterverse
@Jeff_Iorg
God loves you no matter who you are, what you have done, or what you are going through! He doesn’t love spotlight Christians more because of their popularity or accomplishments. God loves every one of His children tenderly.
@johnthweatt
“Our good lives always with You, from which when we are averted we are perverted. Let us now, O Lord, return, that we be not overturned …” — Augustine
@bellvuepastor
Liberalism denies and takes away from God’s word. It’s a theological ditch on the left. Legalism adds manmade rules to Scripture. It’s a theological ditch on the right. Don’t take away from God’s word, and don’t add your manmade rules to it either. Either of these will derail you.
@DL_Staples
Placing my confidence here today: “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Rom. 10:4)
@NAMB_SBC
“What if ‘knowing Jesus and making Him known’ set the agenda for your day? How would this change the way we speak to
others?” — @CatherineRenfro
@jdgreear
“Gentleness is what humility looks like in public.” — @bcloritts #Flags
@jaredcwilson
Slow down. Pray. Think. Resist the hot take. Weigh your words against Scripture. Weight your words with love. The world doesn’t need your “content.” It needs your Christ.
@philwaldrep
“Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” (Rom. 14:19)
@EdLitton
Have we come to the place where God can withdraw His blessings and it does not affect our trust in Him?
@myutmost
The great essential is remaining true to the call of God and realizing that His one and only purpose is to disciple others to Jesus. Remember that there is a passion for souls that does not come from God but from our desire to make converts to our point of view. #myutmost
@BillyGraham
“Sinful pleasure can ruin our appetite for the things of God.”
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