Last Sunday I asked my congregation what month of the year is their favorite one. No one raised their hand when I mentioned January. I cannot blame them, it is not my favorite month either. It is cold, icy and snowy. It is cloudy, umm did I say it’s cold? Brrrr! And that is not even mentioning the holiday and heating bills that come due in January. It is also the month following the great holy day of Christmas. Sort of a let-down month for many even after New Year’s celebrations.

Herron The good news of God, as we enter into a new year, is expressed in four reassuring words, “I am with you.” In the Old Testament book of the prophet, spokesperson for God - Isaiah, the people of God who were at that time in captivity, are given this promise, “Do not fear,” says the Lord to Israel and to us, “I am with you. I have created you. I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are Mine.”

At Christmas we discover this truth. His Name (the Son of God) shall be called Emmanuel, which means, God with us which is another way of saying “I am with you.” Now the world says something very different to us. The world says, “You’re on your own.”

Do you have a problem with the product we have just sold you? “You’re on your own.” Are you having a bad day emotionally? “You’re on your own.” Having trouble figuring out how to put the pieces together? “You are on your own.” Cannot pay your bills? “You’re on your own.”

It really should not surprise us that the word that the world speaks to us is so at odds with the Word of God. But which word seems more real, more true to us, “I am with you,” or “You are on your own?”

To answer that question I would suggest you and I need to do things to make the words come alive, things that people have been doing for a long time, years, centuries, millennia.

We need to remember that as sinners (separated from God) we can repent (sorry for our sins) and be restored to a right relationship through baptism (cleansed and made new). When we do that, we can also remember that Jesus stands with us in our baptism. Jesus comes along and says, “I see you living in sin.” And do you know what Jesus could have said, “You’re on your own.” But you know what? He said something different. Instead He said, “I am with you.”

We need to remember that Jesus ate with sinners. Jesus saw us. He was eating at the table with His friends. Maybe we were all alone, sitting in the restaurant or at the bar. Remember, we are sinners and did Jesus say, “You, over there, you are on your own?” No, instead He said, “I want to share this meal with you.” Which was His way of saying, “I am with you.”

We need to remember that Jesus makes a promise with us. Jesus is the new covenant that even if we have rebelled against God’s Law, even if we have resisted God’s grace, we can never get so far away from God that He says, “You’re on your own.” The Word of God is always, “I am with you.”

The world speaks a lie, “You are on your own.” God speaks Truth, “I am with you.”

Listen once again to the prophet Isaiah, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you, For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior… you are precious in My sight, and honored, and I love you… Do not fear, for I am with you.” Isaiah 43:1-7.

May you remember and be blessed by these words during this New Year.

Dave Herron is the pastor at the Deer Creek Presbyterian Church in Camden.