Live pass 40? Not me.
Looking back when I was in my 20’s and on the Fire Department, I remember having conversations with friends and saying, “I don’t think I’ll ever live past 40 years old.” For many reasons, but the main reason was that I was a firefighter in Los Angeles City, one of the most dangerous jobs in the US, also, I did things that were really stupid. Things like, “free” rock-climbing at Joshua National Park without being belayed off. Driving my motorcycle over 100 mph and surfing great waves because no one was in the water due to shark’s feeding in the surf. On this last incident, I was warned three times by the lifeguard to get out, but the waves were so great and no one else was surfing, so I just couldn’t leave.
Back then, I used to think that a man was considered old when he was about 40 years of age. After that your teeth start falling out, and hair starts growing in your ears. Yet, when I reached 40, I then began to think that turning 60 was old. A 60-year-old man is ancient, life is no fun anymore and all a person does is complain about their health. Well today, September 4, 2023, I turn 70, and I wonder what my 20-year-old self would say about that? My younger self would probably say, “Old Man get out of that wheelchair and just die already.”
But turning 70 It’s not what I imagined at all, I still love fast cars, working on landscaping and date nights with my wife. Inside I feel 40, but I my body protests when I push myself too hard.
I must admit that I feel like I have finally reached an age of respectability. I have lived the ups and downs of life and I have something to offer younger men. Recently, I was told by a friend that I was his mentor and that he benefitted from our friendship. I meet with 8 men once a month on Saturday mornings for breakfast, I cook, and we have great discussions about everything, and I try to keep it centered around Christ and I try to distill in these men the most important aspect of life, living for Christ Jesus. If Christ isn’t first in a man’s life, then no matter how successful your life is, it is only a vapor and you have lived a life in vain. Jesus said in Mark 8:36, “what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his own soul?” Think much on what Jesus just said.
Here is what I have learned in a nutshell, focusing mostly on the biblical truth that I have experienced. Jesus said in Luke 12:7…“even the very hairs of your head are all numbered, so don’t be afraid” Anxiety displeases God because we are saying by being anxious that we don’t trust our heavenly Father. Anxiety always leads to sin, because we think our decisions or maybe the decisions of others are superior to God’s wisdom. Jesus said in Luke 12:32, “Fear not little flock for the Father has gladly given you the Kingdom.” Give your anxiety to God, for if not, you might pay the price of stomach problems, sleepless nights, and even cancer.
Not only does God count the hairs on your head, but He counts your every step. Job 31:4, “…Does He not see my ways and count my every step?” It is very beneficial to realize that God knows every step I make, and He knows yours as well. There is nothing hidden from His sight, there is no such thing as darkness when it comes to God seeing everything. He watches you when you look at computer sites and He know your Intermost desires and secrets. Once you grasp this and repent of your sins in secret, this knowledge becomes wonderful, for you begin to realize that your heavenly Father is with you every second of every day. My prayer life went from once in the morning to speaking to God throughout the day. Paul tells us to pray without ceasing and this is what it means, to talk with Him, for He is with you every moment. Don’t allow much time between your sin and you looking to heaven for cleansing and renewal. I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” What Joy God has provided for the believer in removing our guilt by confession.
God also numbers the days of our existence; we cannot die before the day that God has determined our death. What about suicide? Suicide never takes God by surprise, like it does to us who remain behind. If a person commits suicide, it was in the mind of God before the creation of the world. Psalm 39:4-5, “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!” Notice the Psalmist says, “…what is the measure of my days.” God gives to each person a time to live and an appointed time to die. Hebrews 9:27, “...It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgement.” Never think that you will live to be 70, 80, or 100, for it is God who determines the time you spend on earth. Instead, ask God to make you fruitful for the time He has allotted.
What do I mean by being fruitful? There are two types of fruitfulness that the Bible reveals to us. One is the Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22, “but the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” The other type of fruit that Jesus tells us is, sharing the gospel with others. John 4:27-42, They left their town, and they were coming to Jesus and Jesus said of the people, “Look, lift up your eyes, and see the fields (people) are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life….” Every Christian who shares his faith is gathering fruit for eternal life. Some Christians get to sow the word, while others are reaping what has been sown, yet both are gathering biblical fruit. Be fruitful.
Last thing, develop your love for the Trinity, for to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength is the greatest commandment. How do you love God? By obeying Jesus! John 14:15, 21 and John 15:10, Jesus says, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” “Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me.” “If you love Me, keep My commandments,” Three times Jesus says the same thing, to love Me is to keep My commandments. Live in God’s Word, make it your food and drink and then obey what you learn, if you do, you will be known as someone who loves Jesus.
John, A Slave of Christ
