Having Turned 65
It may be premature to write "having turned 65" when I haven't, and perhaps I won't. The only days guaranteed are the ones already lives, after all. But in the event I do turn 65, here are a few thoughts.
The chief thing is, make the most of each day because you don't know when one will be your last. I think of those who perished in either a shooting in the US or attack in Kenya or floods in Colorado or New Mexico or Mexico. How many expected to die when and how they did? And how many were ready to when the time came?
Moses wrote in Psalm 90, "Teach us to number our days that we may present to You a heart of wisdom." He knew something about numbering days. After the revolts of the Israelites, God judged them and a whole generation perished in the wilderness. Not even Moses survived to enter the Promised Land--only Caleb and Joshua of the older generation had that privilege granted to them. (And if you don't think the Old Testament applies now, read 1 Corinthians 10:6-12.)
Take these passages to heart oh generation now living:
"So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba, Father!' Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through Christ" (Galatians 3:4-7).
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
Think about this: because Christ kept the law perfectly, God can extend grace to us.
"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed'--for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him; for 'Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved'" (Romans 10:9-13).
The chief thing is, make the most of each day because you don't know when one will be your last. I think of those who perished in either a shooting in the US or attack in Kenya or floods in Colorado or New Mexico or Mexico. How many expected to die when and how they did? And how many were ready to when the time came?
Moses wrote in Psalm 90, "Teach us to number our days that we may present to You a heart of wisdom." He knew something about numbering days. After the revolts of the Israelites, God judged them and a whole generation perished in the wilderness. Not even Moses survived to enter the Promised Land--only Caleb and Joshua of the older generation had that privilege granted to them. (And if you don't think the Old Testament applies now, read 1 Corinthians 10:6-12.)
Take these passages to heart oh generation now living:
"So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba, Father!' Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through Christ" (Galatians 3:4-7).
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
Think about this: because Christ kept the law perfectly, God can extend grace to us.
"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed'--for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him; for 'Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved'" (Romans 10:9-13).
posted by Ebeth | 1:53 PM
1 Comments:
Excellent. Thoughts are clear and refreshing. I like your blog and stop to read it when you post it.
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