Joel 2:1 "Blow the in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain!” As Rosh Hashanah approaches, it reminds me of my heartfelt effort to live my Christian life holy and pleasing to God, yet my continuous failures to live that perfect life in Christ that I'd like to live!As the Jewish people begin to reflect on their life before God in Rosh Hashanah, it reminds me of the self-examination I often undergo. This Jewish New Year, often called the "Head of the Year," is a time of repentance, reflection, and renewal marked by the blowing of the shofar. Each of these themes points directly to Christ and His gospel.The Call to RepentanceRosh Hashanah initiates a time of self-examination leading up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It's a season for turning from sin, seeking forgiveness, and starting anew. This mirrors Jesus' message of repentance: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17). In our faith journey, repentance is not a one-time event but a way of life, a continuing posture of humility and surrender to God's grace.As the shofar sounds during Rosh Hashanah, it acts as a spiritual wake-up call. In the same way, God calls us to be alert, to listen to the trumpet in our hearts, reminding us to turn back to Him. Like many, I've often found myself starting afresh, longing to live perfectly for God, yet realizing that I fall short. However, each new beginning is an opportunity to experience His boundless grace again and again. His arms are always open to forgive, restore, and strengthen each of us for the journey ahead.One of the most powerful elements of Rosh Hashanah is the shofar blast, which calls people to wake up and prepare for judgment. This trumpet blast echoes the day when Christ will return with the sound of a great trumpet, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:52: “The trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”Rosh Hashanah’s shofar not only looks back at God’s past faithfulness but also points us forward to the hope of Christ’s return. As we await that final trumpet, we are reminded to live each day as if Jesus could return at any moment, making sure our hearts are aligned with His will.Rosh Hashanah is also known as a day of judgment, when God examines the deeds of His people. While this is a sobering thought, it is also a day of celebrating God’s kingship. In the same way, we look to Jesus as both our righteous Judge and merciful King. Though we will stand before Him one day, we can have peace knowing that He bore the judgment we deserve on the cross. As Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Every day, we have the opportunity to crown Jesus as the Lord and King of our lives. Though I've had to begin again many times, each fresh start is a reminder of His mercy and grace. He is a King who knows our struggles and never gives up on us, but invites us into His loving arms, comfort, and Lordship again and again.During Rosh Hashanah, many reflect on the Jewish tradition of the "Book of Life," where one's deeds are reviewed, and fate is determined for the year. As Christians, we can rejoice in knowing that through Jesus, our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Our salvation is secured not by our works, but by His grace. This truth frees us from the fear of failure and judgment.Though I've fallen short of the ideal of living perfectly for God, I know my place in His kingdom is secure because of His love, not my perfection. My mistakes do not disqualify me from His grace; they draw me closer to the cross.Rosh Hashanah symbolizes a fresh start—a time to realign our lives with God’s purposes. In Christ, we experience this renewal every day. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” This is the beauty of the Christian life. Despite how many times we need to begin again, His mercies are new every morning.Whether you’re in a season of triumph or struggle, Rosh Hashanah invites us to reflect on the constant renewal we have in Christ. Each time we fall, let the trumpet of warning in our heart draws us to Him with thanksgiving, not run from Him in fear, as He offers us the grace to get back up and continue walking in His light.1 Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.”
Timothy Burt is a pastor and author. He is best known as the author of Fresh Manna, a daily Bible devotional read in 228 countries (official and non-official) worldwide.
