 By James H. Cagle |
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil.3:13, 14 KJV).
A resolution is having the resolve or fixity of purpose and making a promise to ourselves that will result in us finally solving some problem or accomplishing some tasks because we know that a resolution made and kept is the only solution to our problems.
Resolutions are not new; they come around at the beginning of every New Year. What is new is someone actually keeping their resolution and keeping their promise to themselves.
To be resolved or resolute means to be “determined, decided, fixed, steadfast, steady, constant, preserving, bold, firm, and unshaken.” But we don’t see our resolution solve anything because we are the very opposite of what resolve is. We are weak, infirm, cowardly, procrastinators, and inconstant.
We make resolutions because we know there are some things about us that need to change. Resolutions may also be determined to help us restore some things that were lost.
But most resolutions are nothing but a farce. Though our problems are real and the solution for solving them would work, we just don’t have the strength of character to keep our resolution and usher in change or restoration. We’re really dispassionate about that which we say we have a passion for. A resolution sounds good but doing it is something else altogether. But we state our resolve and we join with others who did the same and promise to help one another but then we all fail because we took the easy road of doing nothing. It is, by the way, the thought that counts?
A resolution is easier kept if we narrow it down to one thing. If we keep that one resolution we can make another one later.
Most resolutions are made in regard to temporal wealth and physical health. But very few resolutions like Paul’s, are made in regard to eternal wealth and spiritual health.
We determine and make resolutions to be physically wealthy and healthy next year, but have no desire to be holier, and more consecrated to God next year. Both resolutions if kept will bring about noticeable change. The resolution we embrace will be our focus for the coming year and we will be either better or worse for the choice we made and the resolution we kept. One resolution will matter throughout all eternity, and the other won’t matter two seconds on the other side of eternity.
