12-30-13<\/p>\n
When I have visited Bologna through the years, mostly to attend the International Children\u2019s Book Fair, I stayed at an ancient villa outside the city. Its site went back to pre-Christian Roman days; it is named \u201cTorre di Iano\u201d \u2013 Tower (or castle or fortress) of Janus, the Roman god of new beginnings; of transitions; of endings and commencements. The grounds were beautiful, patrolled, believe it or not, by peacocks. The twenty-somethings who bought the decaying structure restored it to a comfortable hotel and restaurant status one room at a time, one floor tile at a time.<\/p>\n
Iano. Jano. Janus \u2013 the two-faced god invented by the Romans, looking backward and forward. It is where we get the name for the month January, representing the year ending and the year beginning.<\/p>\n
Thank God (not Jupiter) that we have a Lord who is never two-faced! He is, on the contrary, the fullness of creation, the Alpha and the Omega \u2013 who is, the Bible tells us, \u201cthe same yesterday, today, and forever.\u201d He is constant, reliable, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Remember this on New Year\u2019s Eve, through your New Year\u2019s resolutions, whether (or how soon) you break them. We mortals always do. <\/p>\n
In fact the new calendar gives us reason to think of Jesus anew \u2013 not because He takes to Himself a new or changing set of characteristics\u2026 but because He doesn\u2019t. This is a remarkable attribute. A God who is faithful even when we are not. A God who is invariable. A God who is an ever-present refuge in times of trouble. A God who is just but merciful, and whose promises are forever.<\/p>\n
\u2026 a God who doesn\u2019t break HIS resolutions, even when, as surely we will, we try and fail, try and fail ourselves. A one-faced God, whom we see through Jesus, the \u201cimage of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Happy new year!<\/p>\n
+ + +<\/p>\n
The composer Vep Ellis wrote a gospel song with the same title as a beloved ancient hymn, that is no less beloved or impactful. \u201cThe Love of God\u201d speaks to the Lord\u2019s never-changing faithfulness and His eternal worthiness as an object of our devotion. The Gaither Vocal Band sings:<\/p>\n