January 2, 2026, 9:00 AM
Happy Friday to you, HAPPY NEW YEAR, and welcome to 2026!
One of my favorite things about New Year's Day is watching the college football bowl games.
The oldest and most prominent of the bowl games is the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA.
Yesterday's Rose Bowl was interesting to me because of one of the teams participating, Indiana University.
Historically, the Hoosiers have not been very good on the gridiron. In fact, the last time Indiana had won a bowl game was nearly 35 years ago!
Their only previous trip to the Rose Bowl (a losing effort) was all the way back in 1968. By the way, their opponent on New Year's Day 1968 was the University of Southern California, led by a young running back named OJ Simpson!
A combination of a new coach, new players, and money from alumni has translated into football success. I have been skeptical throughout the last two football seasons, but I'm now convinced they are for real. I say this after Indiana destroyed Alabama, 38-3, yesterday in the latest edition of the Rose Bowl.
For long-suffering Indiana football fans, this must seem almost too good to be true. In fact, some fans describe it all as a "dream come true."
Things were especially difficult for God-fearing people living in the first century in Israel. They had faced many "losing seasons." They were dealing with occupation from the hated Roman Empire, they were being levied heavy taxes, and their religious system had become corrupt. Furthermore, God had not spoken in nearly 400 years. The stage was set, though. As Galatians 4:4 says, "But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law."
I really like the man named Simeon in Luke Chapter 2. Simeon was known for being “righteous and devout” (Luke 2:25). He met the baby Jesus, and in Luke 2:28-32, we read, “Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 'Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.'”
Just as Simeon faithfully anticipated seeing Jesus COME, we should now be anticipating Jesus to COME BACK.
Simeon's life and attitude serve as a testimony of how we, too, should anticipate the arrival of the Messiah. Simeon looked forward to Christ’s first coming, and we all need to be anticipating His second coming.
I'm reminded of the way our Savior left the earth in Acts 1. As the disciples watched Jesus ascending into the sky, two angels said to the disciples in Acts 1:11, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Therefore, let's not stand around "looking up at the sky." Let us all wait patiently, eagerly anticipating Jesus' return, and staying busy doing Kingdom business while we wait. In fact, that could be a pretty good theme for a new year!
Come join us this Sunday (01.04.26) at FCC as we begin 2026 on a strong note. We will install our new leaders (Elders & Deacons) for 2026, and we will also begin a new series about being more like Jesus Christ! I hope and pray we'll see you this coming Sunday! Until then...
God Bless,
Greg H.
