Fast away the old year passes … It's that nostalgic, hopeful time of year again -- time to ring in the new year and say goodbye to the old, time to take stock of the past and make goals for the future.

The past year has brought events with worldwide significance. Sept. 11, 2001, likely has taken its place in the ever-growing list of major historical events to be recorded on timelines in history books, analyzed by social scientists, talked about by those who still remember when … that fall day's momentous events have served, too, to redefine the significance of everyday things, to re-emphasize the importance of home, family, friends. 

Something I heard on a recent Sunday drive to church got me thinking about this question of significance. I was listening to Ravi Zacharias on the radio as I traveled down the highway and he said something like this: Jesus Christ infuses every moment with meaning. Think about that. Past, present, future. Every second is touched by the existence of Jesus.

He was there at the beginning of time -- "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. … And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:1, 3-4, 14

He knew and loved each and every one of us from the beginning. "The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was." Proverbs 8:22-23

He came to earth as one of us, as was promised throughout the Old Testament prophesies. 

He experienced friendship with the 12 disciples who left their homes and livelihoods to follow him.

He experienced sorrow as he cried at the death of his friend, Lazarus.

He learned of the desperation of the ill when outcasts risked abuse and scorn to tug at the hems of his robe, seeing their best and only hope in him.

He learned of love and faith when a father walked for miles to plead for his child's life, fully trusting that Jesus could heal with just a word.

He learned of temptation when Lucifer himself, the great deceiver, offered him the best of worldly goods, but he relied on the divinely-inspired word of God to resist his flesh and spurn evil.

He felt the need for companionship and support in the garden of Gethsemane, when he asked the three men closest to him on earth to watch with him while he prayed, looking ahead to what he knew was to come.

He surely felt the torture of betrayal when one in his inner circle turned on him, giving him over to those who wished to destroy him.

And in his final, supreme act of dying on the cross for the sins of the world, he experienced excruciating pain and death.

He understands our earthly trials because he lived them, too.

He sent his Spirit to be with us every day, every moment, to help us and guide us, to open our hearts to his will and love. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. … Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Romans 8:14, 26

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. … But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned." I Corinthians 2:12, 14

If we put our trust in him, the Holy Spirit is with us every second of every day -- continually walking with us through the present, whatever our situation may be.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

He has mapped out the future - and has known his plans since the beginning. "Declaring the end from the beginning, from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." Isaiah 46:10

He is coming again, this time to gather believers to him, and once more to judge all nations and establish his kingdom once and for all.

God has known us and loved us from the beginning, and sent his son to reconcile us to him, to bridge the gap created by sin. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can live every day in Jesus, trusting him to direct our paths, knowing that he fully understands everything we go through. We don't have to worry about our future, because he has everything under control. But we are called to watch and be ready for the day when he calls us home. "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." Matthew 25: 13

"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." Matthew 24:44

God truly does hold the whole world in his hands. The past -- all the way back to the beginning of time. The present -- every step of each of our lives. The future -- when his plans will be fulfilled. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8

Seeing God's fingerprints on every second certainly illuminates the significance of each and every one of them --c not just the ones that stand out in our minds, not just the ones that make it into the history books. Without him, there would be no world. Without him, there would be no meaning. Without him, there is no hope for the future.

His love, shown through Jesus' willingness to die on the cross, changes everything. It was with us at creation. It has been with us through the ages. It was with us as we journeyed through 2001. And it will be with us through 2002, and until Jesus comes back and we can experience it face to face.

May God truly be your guide and mine in this coming new year.