Mensa Otabil - We are Crossing Over (10/02/2025)
Today is the last day of the year 2020. We started this journey on the 1st of January, and look at what the Lord has done, bringing us to the final day of the year. On this day, we are crossing over from one day to the other and from one year to the other, and next year is just a day away. Deuteronomy 11:31 states, "For you cross over the Jordan and go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it." So tonight, as we prepare to cross over and move from one year to the next, we give glory to God. We give praise to God, and we honor Him. We are convinced that God has already gone ahead of us into 2021. For us, it is the future; with God, it is His present because He knows the end from the beginning. God lives in eternity, and what we are about to encounter, He has already faced billions of years ago, and He knows what is going to happen in the next year. He made a way for us this year, and He will make a way for us next year.
As we take time to reflect on all that He has done this year, including all the events that have destabilized our world, we also look forward to all that God can do. He has kept us in the most turbulent year of our lives, and here we are, witnessing the end of the year. To God be the glory; great things He has done! Each one of us has stories to tell, and your story may be one of sadness or happiness, but at the center of everybody's story is the Lord God Almighty. He stands with us in our joy; He stands with us in our sadness. He stands with us when we are down; He stands with us when we are up. He stands with us when we are celebrating; He stands with us when we are mourning. The Lord is with us, and He is taking us over into the new year.
The promise or statement we find in this passage was given to Israel as they prepared to cross over the Jordan River into their promised land. That promise was given to Abraham, and for many years, it seemed like the promise would not come. Abraham had Isaac, and eventually, his descendants ended up in Egypt. For 430 years, they looked forward to entering the promised land, but they were in slavery. Then they came out of slavery, and for 40 years, they roamed in the wilderness. But on one particular day, every weight came to an end, and the people who had been waiting to enter their destiny crossed over the Jordan River into their promised land.
Many times, we wait and wait, and then God moves us over. I believe that whenever we cross over, we are crossing into promise; we are crossing into purpose; we are crossing into God's design for our lives. So next year is your promised year, and it's going to be a year of fruitfulness. The Lord will make us fruitful on every side, and we will trust Him to make us fruitful in our minds, in our spirits, and in the work of our hands. We will be productive; we will produce results that give honor and praise to His name.
So tonight, we're going to have the honor of ending one year and beginning a new one. May the same Lord who has watched over you throughout this year of 2020, in the midst of all of this, keep you throughout the year 2021. And next year, by this time, may we all be witnessing the end of 2021. The eyes that have seen the end of this year will also see the end of the next year, and may the Lord cause you to cross over in power and strength.
Take time tonight to be in the presence of God. Be in church, be in the house of God, or watch a service online, but please don't trivialize this moment. As God takes us over into our promised land, may the Lord bless you, keep you, and watch over you throughout the coming year. Let's share a word of prayer together: say with me, "Heavenly Father, lead me from 2020 into 2021 and help me to possess all your promises to me in the new year. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen."
It has been my joy being your pastor throughout this year and bringing the word of God to you daily. I'll catch you tomorrow morning by the rising sun with a new year message. I'm Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.