On May 14, 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set out from Camp Dubois, Illinois, with a band of volunteers to explore the land the United States had recently acquired in the Louisiana Purchase.
With the help of Sacagawea and others, the party ultimately reached the Pacific Ocean, in the process becoming the first Americans to cross the Continental Divide, and produced 140 maps.
As pioneers, Lewis and Clark opened the door to exploring the American West and with their maps they also showed others the way.
In Hebrews 12:2 it says:
“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”
Jesus, like Lewis and Clark, shows us the way we are to go, as it says in vs.1:
“the race marked out for us.”
As a runner keeps fixing their eyes on their goal, so we should keep “fixing our eyes on Jesus.”
When we take our eyes of faith off Him, we begin to sink, like Peter did.
Jesus is the perfecter of our faith, which means He brings it to maturity.
As we face 2020 we have Jesus as our Pioneer into the New Year and He through the Holy Spirit will mature us more and more in this upcoming year.
Countless Americans will make New Year’s resolutions—to keep in touch with friends, to eat better, to lose weight.
The number of gym memberships will soar in January as people resolve to make this year a healthier one.
Unfortunately, by February very few will have continued either the gym membership or the exercising.
Unbelievers only have their own will power to change for the better.
We as believers have an advantage over unbelievers, in that we have the indwelling Holy Spirit to empower us to carry through on our desires to change for the better.
Our goal for 2020 is not just changing for the better, but progressively becoming more and more like Christ in the New Year.
We can only do this as we fix our eyes on Him, since He is the Pioneer and the One who matures our faith.
May we let Him live through us moment-by-moment in 2020!
Happy New Year!
Pastor Ken Keeler, Director of Church Ministries