CHRISTIAN SINGLES ARTICLES BY DR. JIM RIVES

A time comes in everyone’s life where they highly desire the opportunity for a “fresh” start. Choices Christian singles have made, or the choices of others, really mess up the travel plans. For some Christian singles, often, the detours can last for years and it seems that the opportunity for a new beginning will remain elusive forever.

If you are a Christian, you know about new beginnings. The very reason for Christ coming to earth was to provide the means for each of us to have the opportunity for a fresh start. When we accept His gift, we are indeed on a new journey and fresh beginnings.

However, as many Christian singles know, the fact that we accept God’s gift in Christ and begin a new life in Him does not mean that our troubles have ended.

There remains in each Christian the old nature of selfishness. The Bible is filled with stories of those God gave new beginnings in every sense of the word. The children of Israel received many new beginnings from God. One would think that they would learn their lesson and embrace these new beginnings never to turn away into ruin again. But history reveals that whether it is a collection of people, such as the children of Israel, or individual Christian singles, we continue to mess up new beginnings.

Whether Christian singles are reading this at the New Year or at another time of the year, the principles are applicable.

As I was asking God to guide me in what to write and what to say, I quickly saw a mental image. There was a single Christian with leprosy who was standing before God. God reached out and healed the single Christian of their leprosy – completely. There was great joy and excitement over this healing. However, the single Christian who was just healed began walking and went directly into a leper colony and caught the disease again! How stupid to return to where the single Christian would be infected in the same condition as before.

The word that I see from God is that you and I are that single Christian! The sin in our lives is more deadly than leprosy. God provides the salvation cure and bible book of instructions as well as an attendant 24/7, the Holy Spirit. No matter how much God provides we are still tempted to easily slip back into the sinful conditions that caused our situation before God healed us.

As one who has the opportunity to observe many single Christians, I see so many living out the example of leprosy that I have described above. The single Christians know that their previous choices resulted in devastation in their lives, yet the single Christians make a specific, conscious choice to return to the play den of Satan. As soon as the first discomfort develops the person quickly wails to God for deliverance – just as the children of Israel did so often.

As single Christians entertain the desire for a fresh start, look deeper at the real significance and price for such a start. It involves two words that are a major obstacle for most Christian singles – patience and endurance.

Speaking personally, I continue to pay dearly for some choices that I made about 14 years ago. God could just wink and it would all change. God does not wink or move a magic wand across our path because, in my belief and understanding, He knows that we do not learn our lessons quickly and well.

Are you undergoing an extended reconstruction time? Thank God that He loves you that much to stay with you for real victories.

God is the God of second, third, etc. chances. He also knows best, and when Christian singles make choices that throw rebelious arrogance in His face, He will step away from your lives until the lesson is learned. Pay attention to the homework so that you can move on to a significant “fresh” start.

Isaiah 65:17 God says, "Pay close attention now: I'm creating new heavens and a new earth. All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past, to be forgotten."

When Christian singles make wise choices for a fresh start, God is faithful to give single Christians what is on their heart. Related Christian articles for singles: Christian Singles, Accept Yourself and others will too! Also read: Christian singles need not remain loaded down with shame and guilt. Also read: Only God’s Spirit can comfort and guide Christian singles through the difficult times of life. And maybe read: Any desperate singles? And: Should single Christians compare themselves to other Christian singles? And: "Single life is not fun for me. How does God expect me to be happy?" And: There are many different types of singles who profess to be "Christians." And: What are “blockages” that can negatively affect the lives of Christian's singles?

In His love,
Pastor Jim