By Rev. Gian Carlo Villatoro
Founding Pastor, Victory Church Odessa
2021 sounds like a code for an alarm system or for your phone. For us who were born in the 20th Century, even the idea of the year two thousand was scary, futuristic if you like. On those years we wrote on each check (because we used to write checks), the date with the year 1,9xx and it was kind of normal to see the xx number moving forward from 89 to 90, from 94 to 95, etc.
Eventually we arrived to 2,000 and suddenly we keep adding one digit to the number, without even thinking much about it. We basically now just type 21, or 23, in the field that the software on our phone asks us to verify the expiration date on our debit or credit card for an online purchase or payment. Simple as that.
Years and dates, and events, keep coming and going, and we just don’t think much of it.
But the reality is that most of us, in 2021, have seen many good friends, relatives, co-workers, or just acquaintances, passing away, and now details of their faces are hard to remember, because there are so many, that even their names confuse us. That is the truth. Many people died on 2021. Many people almost died, too. It is hard to catch up with everyone because our network of contacts keep growing, as well as the famous names on the news, arts, politics, music, movies, TV shows, or sports, and they keep bombarding us with names to remember because everyone is trying to bring another follower to their social media platform. And, regardless, here we are just a few days in closing 2021 and getting ready to open another Pandora’s Box called 2022.
What is going to happen in 2022? Nobody really knows. Only God knows, and He knows every single detail of it. Of course, you hear “experts” (really?), on TV telling us their predictions about everything.
You also hear their conclusions about 2021, whether it is based on stats, more theories, Machiavellian plans to destroy our country, and even diabolic plans to destroy the Church. All of them sound so convincing, until you blink because you turn around to find out that your dog just now broke something else in your house and you return to the real “reality” of your life, where all those expert opinions mean nothing because you have to clean the mess that Fido just did in your kitchen. All that information and talks you hear, are really just words in the air. It is up to you if you want to breath them inside of you.
What is what you really want in 2022? Actually let me ask you this, what is it that you really need in 2022? Even better, what is it that the Lord God wants of you in 2022?
There is the answer to all problems my friend: when you stop any selfish way of living, and begin to hear the voice of The Holy Spirit in your heart, because He is able to tell you step by step what you need to do. The Lord God is still in full control of this planet, and of the whole Universe, because He owns everything. What if you disagree? The Lord is not asking for your vote, or like, or comment, or for you to subscribe to His channel. He already is the Victorious Triumphant Winner of all times, and He is undefeatable. You, on the other hand, keep getting old, you will not going to add more years to your life just because you want. Eventually you will face death, and you need to get ready.
You need to get closer to the Lord God. The day you surrender to the King of the Universe, the Lord God Almighty, the power of Heaven will come upon you to show you that the WAY, the TRUTH and LIFE is in JESUS. He is able to speak to you every single moment of your day. Do you want to listen to Him? Try it. Your life is going to change forever. Surprise: You then will be really happy!
Every person who knows you, and sees the changes in you, because you are closer to the Lord God, will smile at you, and say to themselves, “finally … he, or she, is really obeying God.”
Merry Christmas from Gian, Tracy and everyone in Victory Church Odessa.
