Did you know that the traditional New Year’s Eve song, Auld Lang Syne, is a Scottish song written by Robert Burns? History says that he sent a copy of the original song to the British Museum with this comment: "The following song, an old song, of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript until I took it down from an old man's singing, is enough to recommend any air." (see http://www.robertburns.org/works/) Here is a small quote about the song taken from that Web site: “This dismissory song is now used throughout So, who can tell me what Auld Lang Syne means anyway? “Should old acquaintance be forgot.” We sing this song year after year and really don’t give a thought to its meaning. It’s become a part of the midnight kisses and confetti. But now that I think about it, maybe, some acquaintances should be forgotten!
the English-speaking world. In Scotland, it
gradually displaced the century-old 'Good-night
and joy be wi' you a'.' In spite of the popularity
of 'Auld Lang Syne', it has aptly been described
as 'the song that nobody knows'.”
We humans need new beginnings. That’s why everyone loves to make those New Year’s resolutions. We have this innate need to start over that points out our recognition that we have failed in some way. Otherwise, we wouldn’t need to start over. We recognize that we just haven’t measured up to our expectations. Maybe like most people, we didn’t meet last year’s goals!
Understood in spiritual terms, this is due at least in part to a consciousness of our own sin, or as the Bible describes it, “missing the mark.” Every human being has this experience until we’ve accepted the only cleanser for that sin -- the blood of Jesus. It’s better than any “white tornado” (yes, my age is showing), because it totally wipes sin away.
Isaiah writes in verse 18 of the first chapter of his book, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” God understands that sin is a burden to us. He understands that freedom and liberty only come when we live like He meant for us to live. We need to change. We need to resolve not to just try to change the outside, but to change from the inside out!
The truth is we need to forget some old acquaintances. Maybe for you these old acquaintances are alcohol, drugs, adultery, or sex apart from a marriage commitment. Or, perhaps, it’s the more hidden sins like anger, lying, cheating, or gossiping. In God’s eyes, one sin is no worse than another because anything outside of the way His love operates is sin. Are these the acquaintances we need to leave behind as we enter the New Year?
Along with this, we need to say hello to God’s ways of doing things and His righteousness. How do we do that? It’s a choice, plain and simple.
First of all, if you’re not a Christian, you need to become one. The only way to live this life is with the help of the Holy Spirit and He doesn’t show up where He’s not invited. He knows He’s invited when you make God your Father by accepting the fact that the blood of Jesus tears down the wall of sin that has separated you from Him. Invite Jesus to take control of your life.
Once you get those ducks in a row and invite the Holy Spirit to be the guide of your life, watch out. The Holy Spirit will seriously take you up on the offer. He will be there every time you’re tempted to revisit those “old acquaintances” (or even new ones that aren’t the right ones). He will be there to give you a million and one reasons why you shouldn’t go in that wrong direction and will show you another path to take instead. Every time you go His way, you win another victory and become a little stronger, so that the next time around the temptation is a little less tempting.
If you make this kind of change in your life this New Year, be assured it will upgrade your life from “okay” in 2002 to “awesome” in 2003 and every year following. You will be one of the few that has a true understanding of what that song means—at least to you. Happy 2003!