God cannot draw near to, much less compromise with, sin. Elohim Yahweh is a holy God. Therefore, whenever there is uncleanness, God will react to it. The second key to putting to death the sinful nature of our old self is to read the Bible frequently. Why? Because 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” When believers make the Word of God the “main course” of their spiritual life, God Himself will teach them, cleanse them, correct them, and shape them into people trained in righteousness. Every God-inspired Scripture becomes a firm foundation for believers to face every circumstance—both the pleasant and the difficult.
With this mindset, a child of God can give thanks in every situation. God always has a plan for good for those who love Him. The ultimate end of the journey of those who love Him is good—it brings joy and produces eternal glory. Looking back over the year 2025, we can surely see the many dynamics of life. Perhaps we began this year with countless hopes and dreams, yet reality often unfolded differently. Like the old song “Tomorrow Will Be Better,” which now may sound like an empty wish amid uncertainty. Days we once expected to be “good days” may have turned into days filled with heaviness and sorrow. Life’s facts do not always align with our expectations.
As believers, we must sharpen our reasoning in viewing life through the lens of our faith. We must not assume that believers will be exempt from the crises or hardships faced by others. Our status as children of God does not exempt us from life’s storms. When the world faces economic recession, budget cuts, layoffs due to efficiency, or even a global epidemic, believers, too, may be affected.
God never promised that the skies of a believer’s life would always be bright and cloudless. He never guaranteed that our path would always be smooth and free of obstacles. But one thing is sure: God never leaves us. He does not remain silent when the sky of our life grows dark, and He does not turn away when our journey becomes heavy and tearful. On the contrary, He promises His unfailing presence and help.
Beloved, Pastor Erastus Sabdono once wrote the following lyrics to affirm God’s plan in the lives of believers:
The sky of my life is not always bright or cloudless,
Sometimes darkness looms, the storm rolls in,
Yet behind the rain appears a beautiful rainbow—
My Lord’s comfort comes.
The path of my life is not always smooth or without obstacles,
Sometimes steep valleys stand before me,
Yet my Lord’s love always accompanies me—
He gives me strength for every step I take.
Chorus:
I trust Your faithfulness in the fog and chaos of my life,
Like an eagle, in Your wings I soar high,
Into Your greater glory.
Like an eagle, in Your wings I soar high,
Into Your ever-greater glory.
This song was not born in a study room or from merely reading theology books—it came from the furnace of real life, from the long journey of a servant of God who lived and persevered with the Lord. Pastor Erastus Sabdono wrote this song not from theory, but from the depths of a soul that had once gazed upon the “dark skies” of life. He had felt storms, struggles, and painful suffering—yet in the midst of it all, he found God’s truth and abiding presence.