Word of Salvation – December 2025
Scripture Readings: 2 Pet 3; Psa 73; (Text vs 23-24)
Sermon: “Watch your step”
Sermon by Rev John Zuidema
Congregation, one year is closing, and a new one is about to dawn. Now I don’t need to remind you that ever since the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven we have been in the last days. So, the reality is that we are closer to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lord’s second coming today than ever before.
Now, generally we are not surprised to see non-Christians scoff at that suggestion, for they do not believe what Scripture teaches about Jesus’ second coming. The surprising thing is that more people in the church are questioning that biblical truth. It was a problem for the early churches in Peter’s day and it seems to be so today.
The evidence that so called ‘church’ people are questioning is for all to see. Thirty years ago, perhaps even less, Sunday was set aside for going to the Lord’s house to worship! Perhaps some of it was driven by legalism, but I would like to think that there was a real love for the Word and to hear it proclaimed and the expectation that Jesus was coming back!
Today, it seems that many go to worship with the understanding that their sins are forgiven and heaven is waiting for them. But how many are praying that Jesus will return soon? I put it to you that more people are questioning the legitimacy and reliability of God’s word when it comes to the second coming.
Some even suggest that using God’s word as a guide for our lives is old fashioned and antiquated. Western governments talk about freedom of religion, and that includes the Christian faith, but we are not allowed to win people to obedience to God’s word. I dare say if you were to preach on a street corner telling people that the Lord is coming back soon, to repent and believe and if you don’t you will go to hell. You would probably be regarded as weird and be arrested for ‘hate’ speech and disturbing the peace.
And I guess we shouldn’t be all that surprised by this decline in commitment to the Lord and his church and his word. The devil presents the world as a very attractive place to be in. He portrays the world as a place of freedom. He makes it seem that church people are kill joys and all this talk about God as Creator and Jesus Christ as Saviour is fantasy, and diminish our joy and inhibit our freedoms.
And you must be naïve to think that his tactics haven’t had some effect. Sadly, we all know of people who publicly professed their faith, but now no longer hold to the Christian faith. As one person said to me, “I’ve moved on”… Really? What does that mean!
So today I want to challenge you to watch your step as you go into 2026. I don’t wish to see you fall or lose your foothold on the gospel. Please don’t say that temptation will never happen to you, for the author of Psalm 73 nearly succumb to that reality.
The author of Psalm 73 had been reflecting on the life of the wicked and arrogant. And the wicked here are not the terrorists or murderers or young teenagers with their machetes who are guilty of heinous sins. They may be included, but the wicked here are those who belong to God’s covenant people and they seem to be rejecting God.
And the Psalmist has observed, perhaps superficially, that the wicked are doing OK. They seem to be prosperous. They have no struggles. They seem to have healthy bodies. They seem to be free from the burdens that are common to man. And even though they are proud and violent and think up evil and scoff, they are seemingly carefree and all the while increase in wealth. They are so full of pride, they even think they have one foot in heaven already. It seems the Lord is blessing them and those who have a real desire to be pure and holy and be obedient to the Lord are always in a struggle.
The Psalmist was beginning to think that his pure, righteous and obedient living was a waste of time. In fact, it felt as though he was being punished every day for being committed to God (v14). And the Psalmist who is watching all this was tempted to go the way of the wicked. His feet had almost stumbled, his steps had nearly slipped (v2). In other words, he was tempted. And then things changed.
He went into the house of God, and he was allowed to see past the wicked and arrogant’s immediate, good circumstances and was shown their ultimate end (v17). He then realised that the wicked and arrogant were on slippery ground and that unless they acknowledged God, they would ultimately be destroyed.
Now before we go on, there is plenty of evidence to show that those who reject God also become sick, make poor decisions that leave them destitute, have weak bodies, some die early, and some are frightened by terrors and the same things that frighten us. But the point that the Psalmist is making is that even if they should only experience good in this life, that is all they will have.
It will only be for 70 or 80 years and then their eternity is complete separation from God, which is what hell is. This side of the grave they still experience God’s common grace, but after death that will be over! In the Lord’s eyes, they are phantoms (v20), dead people walking!
And then in direct contrast to the wicked, the Psalmist realised his own secure and most privileged position. Look at vv 23-24. “Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.”
That is not true for the ungodly! It is not true for those who are intent on evil and murdering innocent lives. It’s not true for the proud and arrogant. It is not true for those who reject God’s law and his counsel for their lives. It’s not true for those who reject Jesus Christ as Saviour! In fact, the promises and comfort contained verses 23-24 are only true for the pure in heart. That’s how this Psalm begins. “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart!”
In a NT setting, these verses of comfort are true for those who have the righteousness of Christ. If that is missing, then there is no comfort in these verses. You may be a good person and kind to the poor and all of that, however, without Christ’s righteousness, you are not saved. You will end up as a phantom to God.
Congregation, as we go into 2026 be careful that your feet do not stumble, or that the ground under your feet is sending you down a slippery slope of hopelessness. I am not suggesting that we shouldn’t have anything to do with the world. Not at all! Rather we are to fight evil and strive for peace. We must pray for the enemies of the cross and we are to reach out with the gospel.
But watch your step as you go into 2026. Don’t take the path of the wicked, for unless they repent, their future is terrible. It is when the Psalmist is instructed on God’s Word that he realises not only the end of the wicked, but that God is always with him. The Psalmist had nothing to fear, for God has holding him by His all-powerful hand.
And if that was true pre-cross of God’s chosen people, how more so for us this side of Calvary. Consider if you will, that God is holding us by our right hand. When that is so, it leaves God’s own powerful and mighty right hand free to act. There are many verses in Scripture that describe God mighty right hand working for his people.
Moses in Exo 15:6 sings, “Your right hand, O LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy.”
V12 “You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them.”
(Psa 16:8) “I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
(Psa 18:35) “You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me…” (cf Psa 20:6; Psa 45:4; Psa 60:5;).
(Psa 63:8) “My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”
(Psa 74:11) “Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!”
(Psa 108:6) “Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.”
(Psa 121:5) “The LORD watches over you– the LORD is your shade at your right hand;”
(Psa 139:10) “…even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
Congregation, if God has us by the hand, guiding us, giving us counsel and bringing us to glory, why would we want to go anywhere else? If God, did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Absolutely!
The Apostle John reminds us that nothing can snatch us out of his hands [John 10:28]. And if that isn’t enough, the Lord Jesus, now sitting at the right hand of God, said that He would be with us to the very close of the age [Mat 28:20]. He continues to intercede for us!
The deliverance of the Psalmist was as remarkable as the danger had been great. So please watch your step in 2026. Don’t let your feet slip by following the world. Rather, feed on God’s Word and experience that God his holding you by his mighty right hand.
Doesn’t mean that everything will go smoothly in 2026, for even the Psalmist speaks that his heart and even his flesh may fail (v26). Yet, when our resources are spent and we have nothing more to give, God continues to hold us; He is our strength. He does not sleep or slumber. He will not let us fall. More than that, the pure in heart can call on him and He will guide with his counsel.
Job was accused by God of darkening his counsel without knowledge. Some people do that! They prattle on and on and never button their lip to listen what God is saying in his word. Hence, they do not really know what they are saying or what God is saying through his word and Spirit to them. They think they are wise with their many words, but they walk in the darkness because they haven’t taken time to prayerfully consider God’s word and his will.
However, that is not true of our God. He knows all and his knowledge is limitless. Oh, let us learn to turn our ear towards our God and listen to his counsel. Put aside the daily newspaper or the monthly magazine and prayerfully read his Word. Switch off the idiot box for a while. Put your phone on silence, or flight mode and spend some time in prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate his Word so that when you read you do so with understanding.
There is still another stark contrast between the wicked whose end was destruction, and Psalmist’s end which was sharing in God’s glory. The Psalmist although confident of this reality could only see a poor reflection of this truth. And yet he knew with certainty the end for the righteous was one of glory! And we today are even more privileged for we have greater knowledge. We know for certainty that God, through the work of his Son, will take us to glory. The fact that He suffered and died on the cross for our sin, that He rose again, and has defeated death forever. That He ascended to sit at the right hand of the Father. That we are seen as righteous before God in Christ!
Congregation, I don’t know what the Lord has in store for you or for me in 2026. Perhaps it is the year when my flesh and heart will fail. Doesn’t matter, the Lord has you in his eternal hands. Now I want to drive that point home. So often I get emails from friends who are ill and that their faith is being sorely tested but that they do not waver for their faith is strong!
Now I know what they mean, but it makes it out as though the strength of our faith is going to save us! That’s nonsense. Faith is but the conduit through which God’s grace and blessing come into our lives. Sure, our faith is being tested, but the Saviour is holding us tight! He is the Saviour and only Him!”
Perhaps there will be more wars and rumours of wars. Doesn’t matter – the Lord protects his people with his mighty right hand. There will probably more famines but if he feeds the sparrow, how much more will he feed us. The antichrist may become more prevalent. Perhaps there will be greater evil and wickedness but he who lives within us is far greater!
Perhaps there will be more earthquakes and tidal waves. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, ….” (Psa 46)
Finally, as we move into 2026, may the Lord bless our feeble attempts at witnessing so that those who are not yet pure in heart become so in Christ so that those we love and care for may never be swept away. May they come to know the assurance of being safe in the hands of the one and only powerful God. May they experience of a peace that passes understanding.
Indeed, may it please God to give us opportunity to tell others about the One who holds us by our right hand, and gives us counsel, and will one day take us to glory with him. Watch your step in 2026 and have a happy New Year! Amen.