THE NEW YEAR IS A GOLDEN GATE OF OPPORTUNITY

 

 “For ye have not passed this way heretofore.” Josh. 3:4.

 

         The children of Israel were just going to cross the Jordan and the message came to them, “Ye have not passed this way heretofore.” We have not passed this new year’s way heretofore. It was a prospect calculated to try the stoutest hearts among them; yet it was the opening up of many possibilities for noblest achievement. The ark, the symbol of God’s presence, was carried before them. God was their leader. He must be ours. If we will accept him as our guide in every path, if we will follow him always, we will find that to us rivers will open and we shall be led into lands of glorious promise. 

         The reason the ark was to be carried before the people was that they might know the way. It was a new path to them. “Ye have not passed this way heretofore.” We, too, are constantly coming to experiences that are altogether new to us. Indeed, all life is in a sense new and strange. Every day’s path is an untried one. There are also many special times in life when it can be truly said to us, “Ye have not passed this wayheretofore.” It is so of youth, and to every happy-hearted child the counsel well may come: “Keep the ark always before you, and keep in sight of it, for you have not passed this way heretofore.” 

         It is true when a young man goes out from his home to try the world for himself. It is true of the young woman who steps forth from her father’s door to go to the marriage altar. It is true when we are called to meet our first great sorrow. It is true when we take up our first serious responsibilities in life.It is true at the last when we are moving into the valley of the shadow of death. 

DORAN'S Ministers Manual 1927