70… to Infinity
In Psalm 90 the psalmist muses on mankind’s guilt, the ultimate justice of God and the brevity of human life. In verse 10 he writes, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” (Ps. 90:10). In light of this, two verses later he prays, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (v.12).
Yesterday I turned 70 (“threescore years and ten”). Rigidly following the above Scripture, one might say I am now living on “borrowed time”… or, more accurately, by the grace of God. But really, our entire lives are “by the grace of God.” From the get-go this “free will” creation of the Almighty rebelled and went awry. We proved ourselves faulty, made ourselves marred, and did not repent (change our minds and course).
But our Maker did not destroy us… crumple up our clay and discard us. No, he decided to reshape us… remake us… not en-masses, but one at a time… not by force, but by wooing. He maintained our freedom of minds and allows us each to choose… Will we to be pliant in His Hands? Or not?
If you have recognized your need of Him, yielded to Him as softened clay, then He is already at work in you. He has particular design in mind for each of us… for you, and for I. He is giving you a new mind and a new heart; He has set you now on a new course.
In Galatians 5 Paul urges the Galatians to stay that course. Some had begun to stray from it and these he urges to return: “You were running a good race,” he writes (5:7), but someone cut in, tried to mar the race that remained. He says, don’t let that happen to you. Our good Father wants us each to finish well our race.
Paul, now aged, wrote the young and vibrant Timothy, “…my departure is near…I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:6-8).
For those who have commited their souls to Christ the future is not tragic but joyous!
“To infinity and beyond!” – Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story
More tomorrow…
To hear this past Sunday’s message, go to the Facebook page of Lincoln Baptist Church, or link to the livestream from the church website.
thebrokenrunner 