It’s natural to divide your life into “before” and “after,” isn’t it?

We mentally calculate whether something happened before or after certain important events in our lives.

We might say that such-and-such happened before we moved to Boston, or after we got married. We may recall that another thing happened after we had our son but before the twins were born.

Ancient cultures did something similar. Those with monarchies would mark events in relation to what king was on the throne at the time. They’d say that something happened in the 9th year of the reign of King so-and-so.

Certainly, most of us will divide our lives into pre-and post-pandemic eras. March of 2020 was a clear demarcation point between our previous “normal” life and one dominated by COVID-19.

The dividing lines of our lives will be different for all of us, but what most of the world has in common is the use of the same calendar system to mark off years. This system has its own before-and-after pivot point.

For instance, most of us just celebrated the start of AD 2022.

What does the “AD” mean, anyway? Or “BC” for that matter?

AD stands for Anno Domini, which is Latin for “in the year of our Lord.” We use it to express how many years have elapsed after the accepted date of Christ’s birth. Similarly, BC stands for “before Christ.”

So when you write the year, you’re acknowledging that the birth of Jesus is a hinge point in human history.

People who don’t believe in Jesus may prefer to use the BCE/CE (Common Era) designations for calendar years. But even then, they can’t get around the fact that the pivot point for the changeover from BCE to CE is still the birth of Jesus Christ.

Did you know that you can create your own BC/AD hinge point in your life?

If you don’t know Jesus yet, I invite you to do so. Learn about the atoning sacrifice He made on the Cross to save you from your sins. Learn about God’s unimaginable love for you and the lengths He has gone to so that you can spend eternity with Him. (Check out the “Resources” menu above for information.)

And then make a decision that you will follow Jesus for the rest of your life.

That moment becomes your personal hinge point.

From then on, you can measure events in your life as belonging to either BC or AD.

BC represents your old life, before you knew Jesus. This was the time when your sins hadn’t been dealt with yet, when you weren’t in right fellowship with God, and when you were trying to muddle along without Him.

But what a difference a day makes!

AD represents a new beginning for you. Your sins are wiped clean from the slate and you are now embraced as one of God’s dear children. You can communicate with Him directly as your Heavenly Father, and experience His love and grace in your life.

So why don’t you make this year the one you commit your life to Christ?

Create your own BC/AD pivot point.

Leave behind BC and step into Anno Domini, the year of your Lord.

You will never be the same!

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2 corinthians 5:17

© 2022 Lori J. Cartmell. All rights reserved.