Their inner thought is that their houses are forever and their dwelling places to all generations; they have called their lands after their own names. But man in his pomp will not endure; he is like the beasts that perish...Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not descend after him. Though while he lives he congratulates himself - and though men praise you when you do well for yourself - he shall go to the generation of his fathers; they will never see the light. Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, is like the beasts that perish

- Psalm 49:11-12, 16-20

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding

- Proverbs 9:10

What do you want to happen in your life more than anything else in 2008? The Bible passages above tell us that the single most important thing for anyone of us is our relationship to God. The size of your bank account and your status in the community are pointless and worthless without an understanding of God. The reason they are pointless and worthless is because they are temporary and have nothing to do with what your Creator values. Do you want to know what God values? Here's what He says:

He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord favors those who fear Him, those who wait for His lovingkindness

(Psalm 147:10-11).

Most people spend their time passionately pursuing the creation more than the Creator. They are chasing after things, pleasure, prestige. They want to be famous, or rich, or respected. They want to be needed and loved. So, they work hard, seek advanced degrees, try to network with important people, all for the purpose of achieving one or more of these driving desires. But God says,

Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than breath

(Psalm 62:9).

All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever

(Isaiah 40:6-8). Trophies collect dust. Fame fleets away. Beauty passes. Empires crumble. There is nothing wrong with working hard or pursuing higher education. There is nothing wrong with the desire for happiness and to be loved. The problem is when these pursuits take us away from God, instead of to Him. God created you with these desires and is the only One who can satisfy them. Jesus says,

I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst

(John 6:35). Also, God didn't create You so you would worship your desires, but that you would worship Him. He wants you to know, love, and enjoy Him, resulting in your great happiness and His great honor. Are you going to waste another year of your life pursuing everything but God?

Fearing God means to live your life in the continual awareness of His presence and to respect, love, and honor Him in all you do. The problem is that all of us are born with a heart that doesn't fear God (Romans 3:10-18). We're born sinners, and there's nothing you can do to change that. Don't make the mistake of thinking you're going to make yourself a better person, and elevate your thoughts and desires. You need a Savior. We all do.

The Bible says of Jesus,

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God...

(I Peter 3:18). You will never be able to be rightly related to God apart from Jesus. Jesus says,

I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me

(John 14:6). A life that is wise, a heart that fears God comes

through faith in Jesus Christ

(Romans 3:22). The Scripture adds,

But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ

(Ephesians 2:13). Christ is

the power of God and the wisdom of God

(I Corinthians 1:24).

The wisest thing for you to do this year is to get to know God through Jesus. Start attending a Bible-teaching church. A Bible-teaching church is one that teaches the Bible! It's not focused on social or political issues, but when you go there the pastor and the congregation open the Bible, study what God says, and apply it to their lives. A Bible-teaching church is led by the Word, not the opinions of men. Also, a Bible-teaching church focuses on the person and work of Jesus, because this is what the Bible focuses on. If you want to get to know God this year through Jesus, not only should you start attending a Bible-teaching church, but you should also get a Bible yourself and start reading It.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ

(Romans 10:17).

More than anything else in 2008, you need to know God.

Lord, make me to know my end and what is the extent of my days; let me know how transient I am. Behold, You have made my days as handbreaths, and my lifetime as nothing in Your sight; surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Surely every man walks about as a phantom; surely they make an uproar for nothing; he amasses riches and does not know who will gather them. And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You

- Psalm 39:4-7