2008 - A Year of New Beginnings

On the 8^th day of the 8^th month in year of 88 I was listening to the radio while on my way to work. The announcer reported the high temperature of New York City at an uncanny 88 degrees. I don’t live in New York and the only reason it was reported in Texas was because of all the eights involved.

Now I’ve been a scriptural number thumper for sometime and I knew that God likes to preach sermons on new beginnings through the number eight. I wondered what new beginning was about to take place in the Big Apple.

At that same time a young go-getter and the third ranked man on the Department of Justice by the name of Rudolph Giuliani was getting ready to run for Mayor. He would later change Times Square from a sewer of porn and crime back to a tourist attraction

Things were about to change and that’s what new beginnings are all about.

A New Sheriff in Town.

When Jesus hit the scene 2000 years ago, He fulfilled and completed one covenant and opened a new one. To get an idea of how radical this new beginning is for us, you must first be able to wrap your head around the concept of how messed up we were under the old covenant. There was nothing wrong with the covenant; but under it we were a major malfunction.

You put people into any picture and it gets messed up quick. The book of Genesis sinks like a lead balloon from the first four words of the book into the last four words of the book. We go from “In the Beginning God”…to…”a coffin in Egypt.”

The book of Genesis takes a nose-dive from things “as good they can get” to things as bad as they can get. Now fill in the blank and guess who entered into that picture. You and I did! Mankind. Things were bad in Dodge City and we needed a new sheriff in town. Enter Jesus Christ, the King of Kings.

When Jesus appeared as promised, He didn’t come with just with a new beginning but as the new beginning that all of us needed. With Jesus, everybody gets another chance.

Pieces of Eight

Because the number eight represents new beginnings, the Holy Spirit has had the writers of the Bible pen down eight new things the Lord gives us through His new covenant.

A new song (Ps 96:1 Rev 5:5:9) A new name (Isaiah 65:2 Rev 2:17) A new Heart (Ezekiel 18:31) A new Spirit (Ezekiel 11:19) A new tongue (Mark 16:17 Acts 2:4) A new commandment (John 13:34) A new heaven and a new Earth (Rev 21:1 and Isaiah 66:22)

Since the number 8 is all about new beginnings, it’s no wonder that there were 8 people in the Ark when it rested on Ararat. King David was the 8th son of Jesse. Aaron and sons began their ministry on the 8th day. The word “born” appears 8 times in Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus. Elijah performed 8 miracles. Elisha performed 16 miracles (2x8). Jesus rose up on the eighth day or the first day of the week.

I think it’s also cool to note the title of Jesus as “Redeemer” shows up eight times in scripture.

There are 8 women prophets in the bible. (Miriam; Deborah; Huldah; Anna; and the 4 virgin daughters of Philip in Acts 21:8)

There are also 8 things worthy to think on in Philippians 4:8. If you want a new beginning in your mind, these are things you have to think on. (Things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of a good report, virtue and praise.)

Even the word eight appears exactly 80 times in scripture.

Eight is Enough

So the Biblical point of the number eight is that in it, is the promise of brand new beginnings. A time when things that should of happened finally do happen. A fresh start and a second chance. A hopeful time of promise or “renaissance” if you will. That’s what I believe 2008 to be for all of us. I double-dog-dare you to be hopeful with me.