There are many new things being enjoyed right now. New toys are being played with, new clothes are being worn, new kitchen utensils are being tried out, and new books are being read. The celebration of Christmas provides us with many new things. It seems appropriate, then, to celebrate a new year immediately following. There is something, though, that we can celebrate as new every day.

Jeremiah 31:31, 33-34 — Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah… But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

We must recall the old covenant that God made with His people; the covenant that the people broke. The law was inscribed on stone tablets and kept in the Most Holy Place. God says here that He will write the law on the hearts of His people — as living temples. Under the old way, there was a system of sacrifices that formed a constant reminder of sin. God says that the new covenant will result a perfect redemption: the satisfaction for the sins is complete an no more sacrifice is necessary. But that is not all… God has more newness for us:

Ezekiel 34:26-27 — And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

It is important to note that the newness we receive from God come from God and not man. In other words, it is a gift from God based on His ultimate decision, not on some recipe of action on our part. This newness comes from God. We read more about this gift in the New Testament:

Hebrews 9:15 — Therefore [Jesus] is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Because of Jesus, we have eternal life. The effect in this life is a constant celebration of newness. I say, “humbug” to new years. Let us celebrate every day. May we never forget to worship God in gratitude for the new covenant He has given to us.

PS: These lyrics, from the British band Muse’s song Feeling Good, provide a fascinating way of looking at life: