What’s in a year?
At the beginning of a new year, that is a timely question. Looking back, we can count, catalog, and consider all the events that transpired in the last 365 days. Looking ahead, we have no idea what a year may hold. Following the trends of recent years or deciphering patterns from ancient history, we might offer credible suggestions on what is to come. But in truth, we don’t know what the Lord decreed.
With Bibles in hand, we can bear witness that everything that takes place—past, present, and future—is equally ordained by God. Scripture teaches us that before the foundation of the world, God decreed all the events in history to bring into being his kingdom on the earth (Rev. 11:15).
To cite one example, God revealed to Daniel what would happen in the future with such vivid detail that many biblical scholars have taken Daniel 11 to be written after the fact. But Daniel 10:21 suggests otherwise. From the “the book of truth,” God revealed all the things that would precede the arrival of the Messiah. Such is the detail to which God has declared the end from the beginning (cf. Isa. 46:10). Nothing happens by chance and all things are part of God’s plan to redeem the elect and to make all things new.
In 2023, those plans included the rising threat of China, the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence, the violence of Hamas, the White House’s endorsement of transgenderism, and the repopulation of America with illegal aliens crossing the Southern border. But also, and out away from the headlines, God’s plans included the birth of children, the death of loved ones, the salvation of prodigals, and the judgment of false teachers. In truth, everything that happened in 2023 happened right on schedule and according to God’s eternal decree.
And equally, everything that will happen in 2024 is also written down in his book. God knows exactly what he will do in the coming year. And it is good that we do not. Detailed knowledge of the future would not render us more prepared; it would render us more fearful and self-dependent. By not knowing the dates and the details of the coming year, however, we are led to look to the Lord and confess this singular truth: Christ is Lord over all, and so in all things let us exalt Christ.
For the last year, that has been the call sign of Christ Over All. And by God’s grace, it will not change as we enter a new year. Instead, as we learn each day what the sovereign will of God is, we will double down on the fact that Christ’s Lordship matters for all of life. To that end, we will continue to emphasize this point: That this year, like all years, is the Lord’s.
Make Anno Domini Great Again
The number assigned to this year is 2024. And for most of us living in America, this divisible-by-four integer carries a political connotation: This is the year of our presidential election. An election, which by all outward signs, appears to be one for the ages. If 2020 is any indicator, this year’s election will likely involve what we might call “many shenanigans.” Yet, for all that awaits us in 2024, I would offer this encouragement: Let’s Make Anno Domini Great Again.
More than ever in my lifetime, I am struck by the meaning of Anno Domini, the AD marker that differentiates AD 2024 from 2024 BC, which going by the biblical data would have been in the final days of Noah, the days leading up to Abraham. Therefore, AD adds an important clarification for our record keeping. But more than that, it declares a theological fact. We stand in the year of our Lord, 2024.
While not biblical in origin, the time table of Before Christ (BC) and Anno Domini (AD) goes back to Pope Gregory XIII. In 1582, he devised his “Gregorian” calendar to improve upon the Julian calendar, and the Western world has used this time table ever since. Accordingly, Anno Domini is one of those vestiges of Christendom that will likely come under fire, as soon as the academic guilds stop defending Hamas and the woke mob tires of tearing down statues. Indeed, AD 2024 is more than an act of colonization; it is a daily reminder to those who rage against the Lord (Ps. 2:1–3) that God has established his Son on the throne (Ps. 2:4–9), so kiss the Son (Ps. 2:10–12).
Even as the birth of Christ happened around 6–5 BC, an evidence of Gregory’s imprecision, the turn of times from Before Christ to After Christ (Anno Domini) is undeniably Christian. This is the world that God made and we are living in it. “In the year of our Lord 2024” bears witness to this sovereign fact, and for that reason, we should make much of the AD.
Truly, we should make much of Christ’s rule over time because it is true, because it puts our present problems in perspective, and because it won’t be long before the calendar is another source of debate. While critical linguists have for generations set themselves on redefining the dictionary and critical historians have sought to redefine the founding of our country, it won’t be long before the social revolutionaries learn from the past to reset the calendar too.
In 1793, the philosophes of France sought to reset the clock and devised an entirely modern calendar—complete with a new set of days, weeks, months, and years. In attempt to entirely unburden themselves from religion, in general, and Christianity, in particular, they devised a method of keeping time that stood on the wisdom of man and departed from the Lordship of Christ. Such a fool’s errand lasted until Napoleon Bonaparte struck it down. But it shows how far men are willing to go to rage against their Lord and Creator.
Similarly, Aldous Huxley famously set his Brave New World in AD 2540, or as he would have it: AF 632. The AF stands for “After Ford,” and it marked the period of time after the car manufacturer Henry Ford invented the assembly line. Satirically yet perceptively, Huxley showed in his dystopian look at the future how Ford’s hyper-technological world earned him a god-like status and thus, the center stage of the calendar.
As Huxley’s Brave New World has “predicted” so many cultural movements today, one wonders if his fictious resetting of the calendar around Henry Ford is not something the World Economic Forum would consider? The Babylon Bee could run an article making that claim, but it would really be difficult to tell if a Ted Talk entitled, “Why We Need to Reset the Calendar,” was real or make believe.
For that reason, as we stand in the year of our Lord 2024, we need to declare boldly: This is the Lord’s year. Whatever comes upon us in the next twelve months, may our response be one, unbroken, unified chorus: “Christ is Lord!” He has been Lord for 2024 years and then some. Before, during, and after his Incarnation, the Son of God was the Divine Word who upheld all things in creation. And thus, all things in creation, as Colossians 1:16 tells us, are made for him.
For the last year, Christ Over All has sought to declare that truth as loudly, lovingly, and truthfully as possible. And as the Lord allows us in AD 2024, we will continue to make that claim. And we would ask you to join us in doing that.
Pray for us and the authors who write for Christ Over All. Pray for a wider reach of this ministry to bring solid biblical truth to the people who need it. And please consider giving to the work at Christ Over All. To continue providing free resources, we are in need of individuals and churches who support this work. So please pray for God to raise up such ministry partners.
Together, in this year and every year, let’s Make Anno Domini Great Again.
Looking Back
In AD 2023, we were able to tackle a dozen or so issues, as found in these monthly themes. As always, we produce evergreen material that you can find online. Beginning this Spring, however, we will have digital downloads available for minimal cost. Please keep an eye out for that.
Upcoming Months
In AD 2024, we are planning, Lord willing, to offer the following themes. If one of them is an area of interest and/or expertise, please contact us to discuss a possible contribution.
- January 2024 – A Biblical View of Israel
- February 2024 – Theology by the Book
- March 2024 – Creeds, Confession, & Cooperation
- April 2024 – The Four Gospels, One Passion
- May 2024 – Artificial Intelligence: The Good, the Bad, and the Inevitable
- June 2024 – Great Books Throughout the Ages
- July 2024 – Christian Platonism: An Appraisal
- August 2024 – The Book of Hebrews
- September 2024 – The 2024 US Election
- October 2024 – Current Isms and Their Offspring– Globalism, Statism, Totalitarianism, Big Pharma, Big Education, Climate Change, and the World Economic Forum
- November 2024 – The Kingdom of God
- December 2024 – Handel’s Messiah
May the Lord use these forthcoming resources to bless his church and equip his saints for enduring service to our King.
A Final Word as We Enter 2024
As we enter the new year, we have lots of ideas for expanding the offerings here. But one of the ideas that will permit further contributions in the future is actually to limit the volume of content in the present.
To maintain the quality of our publications with the finite resources we have, we are planning to scale back our monthly volume. We have realized the pace of producing and reading such a vast amount every month may actually undercut our desire to “slow down” and “think carefully” about the given subjects. So, in 2024, we will be more selective in our offerings so that we can provide the best articles and essays for your consumption.
Along the way, if you have questions or ideas for us to consider, please don’t hesitate to reach out. It has been a joy to meet many new friends with this ministry and we hope the fraternity that is found at Christ Over All may find further in-person opportunities.
One such opportunity will be at the Founders’ National Conference in Fort Myers, Florida (January 18–20). We will be manning a booth there and we would love to see anyone who happens to attend. Let us know ahead of time and we will be sure to keep an eye out for you.
Until then, keep an eye out for Stephen Wellum’s new Systematic Theology. It comes out in February, and we will devote time in that month to discuss his project.
Finally, if you know anyone who should know about Christ Over All but doesn’t, please pass our resources along. We are here to help you, and we pray that what is produced here glorifies Christ and builds up his church.
Until next time, remember that Christ is Lord, so in all things let us exalt Christ.
Soli Deo Gloria
David Schrock
