For January 1, 2026
A wide range of emotions surrounds the New Year. As the clock strikes midnight, many celebrate with joy and anticipation. For these individuals, a new year feels full of promise. But others carry sorrow, regret, or uncertainty into
the days ahead. For them, the turning of the calendar is a reminder of what was lost or left unfinished.
The New Year is more than a change in dates—it is an invitation to turn our hearts toward the One who makes all things new. Each passing year reminds us of this extraordinary truth: history itself is centered on one Person—Jesus Christ. The Scriptures declare:
And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
Colossians 1:17 (NKJV)
Our calendar reflects this reality. The Gregorian Calendar, adopted in 1582 to correct the drift of the earlier Julian Calendar, numbers each year from the birth of Jesus Christ.
The designation B.C. marks the time before His birth, while the years since are known as Anno Domini (A.D.), meaning “in the year of our Lord.” Today this is also called the Common Era (C.E.), but regardless of the name, the reference point remains the same—Jesus Christ stands at the center of human history.
As we enter 2026, we acknowledge that more than two thousand years have passed since the birth of Jesus (though many scholars place His actual birth around 4 B.C.). No other human figure has shaped the world so profoundly. No other life has transformed so many hearts, and no other name provides what every human soul urgently needs: forgiveness, peace, purpose, and eternal life.
Only Jesus Christ can reconcile a sinful humanity to a holy God. We cannot fix ourselves, erase our guilt, or earn God’s favor through good intentions and moral effort. But God, in His mercy, has done for us what we could never do for ourselves.
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- Jesus perfectly obeyed God’s Law for us, something we couldn’t do ourselves.
- By dying on the cross, he made the ultimate sacrifice, suffering the penalty we deserved for our sins.
- His resurrection showed a complete victory over sin and death.
- Upon His ascension to heaven, He intercedes on our behalf and promises a glorious return.
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Salvation is not achieved by our works—it is received by our faith in His works. When we turn from trusting ourselves and place our trust in Jesus Christ alone, God forgives us, makes us new creatures, and gives us eternal life.
Here is what the Word of God declares:
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4—10 (NKJV)
Jesus extends this invitation to every weary heart:
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)
The year 2025 was hard for many. Perhaps you were disappointed by others. Or your plans fell apart. Maybe you feel tired, empty, or uncertain about the future. If so, hear this clearly: Jesus Christ is not finished with you.
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- People may disappoint, but He will not.
- You can weaken, but His strength is eternal.
- The past can trouble you, but His grace is greater than your past.
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This new year can be more than a change on the calendar. It can mark the dawn of a new life where the Lord will never abandon or forsake you.
I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:20b (NKJV)
If you will turn to Jesus Christ, by repenting of your sin and trusting Him fully, He promises forgiveness, freedom, purpose, and a joy that no power on earth can steal, and He guarantees an eternal life of peace with God.
When our New Year’s resolutions begin not with self-effort but with surrender to Christ, God does a work in us that no resolution ever could. Only then can we truly experience a very Happy New Year.
Jesus Christ is calling you today. Won’t you give Him your heart and experience new life forever?
What a Wonderful Savior!