2001-01-01 - Ringing In The New Year

Hebrews 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.

I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year. I am going to take a little different approach today and give you a short list of some people who celebrated the New Year last year but are not celebrating the New Year this year. Then I would like to share a thought or two. These are some of the people who were living last New Year's Day, who are not today. I got this list from WORLD magazine.

Hedy Lamarr, died January 19, 2000. She was a film star who acted with Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, and others. She was 86.

Derrick Thomas, died February 8, 2000. He was a nine-time pro-bowl linebacker with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was 33.

Tom Landry, died February 12, 2000. He coached the Dallas Cowboys for 29 years. He was involved in many Christian ministries. He was 75.

Thomas Wilson Ferebee, died March 16, 2000. He was the bombardier who dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. He was 81.

Larry Linville died April 10, 2000. He was the actor best known for portraying Major Frank Burns on MASH. He was 60.

Greg Barnes killed himself May 4, 2000. He was a Columbine High School basketball star who saw a friend and teacher die in the 1999 massacre at the school. He was 17.

James Montgomery Boice died June 15, 2000. He was a leader in the evangelical and Reformed church. He was 61. He was my pastor for several years.

Walter Matthau died July 1, 2000. He was a famous actor. He was 79.

Rudolph Wendelin died August 31, 2000. He was the artist who drew "Smokey Bear" for the US Forest Service. He was 90.

Julie London died October 18, 2000. She was a singer (Cry Me a River) and actress who played "Dixie McCall" on "Emergency!" She was 74.

Guy Condon died November 11, 2000. He was president of CareNet, a group that worked with Crisis pregnancy centers. He was 46.

Kevin Mills died December 3, 2000. He was a singer and bass player for the Christian rock group Newsboys. He was 32.

Werner Klemperer died December 6, 2000. He is best known as Colonel Klink on "Hogans Heroes." In real life he was a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany. He was 80.

Last New Year's Day all these and many others were ushering in the new year and probably worried about Y2K. Today their worries are over. There is no time left for them to worry. Time, for them, has run out. How are you using your time? How are you preparing for eternity? What if this is your last New Year's Day? It will be for some. Next year there will be a new list of those who saw this new year and did not see 2002.

Scripture tells us that time is precious. We are to, "make the most of our time," Ephesians 5:16. Scripture also tells us that time is uncertain in the parable of the rich man in Luke 12:16-21. This is the time when many make resolutions. I urge you to make resolutions, if you are so inclined, that take a view to your walk with Christ and the realities of eternity.

I really do wish you all a blessed and happy New Year. Let us live this year for Christ and His kingdom.

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-

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