And our journey through it.
MOTIVATION FOR OLD AGE
As I was reading the Word today I came across some scriptures that were so uplifting to me that I would love to share them with you. The scriptures are for young and old alike but they comforted my heart for this season in my life. If the Lord “tarries” I will be 70 years old next year. Which is not that old in the big picture, but the physical body tries to tell us differently as the years go on. I’ve always said, “The older I get the closer to my Lord I get.”
You see Church, I’m a romantic at heart, and the thought of my Bridegroom being so close makes my joy unspeakable. (John 3:29; Isaiah 54:5) God has my heart already so the physical world and body are a whole lot further down the line in the scheme of things.
Now Saints, with that mind-set let’s read God’s Word for encouragement.
II Corinthians 4: 16-18 (Under the title: Motivation of External Perspective)
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
There it is again Church, we are admonished to look beyond the physical here and now, and look past it to our “Forever Future” with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. For me, that is such a peaceful feeling! I pray it is for you, too.
In fact, if we continue reading through chapter 5 in II Corinthians (and I highly encourage it) we learn about other motivations for our walk with Christ:
Verses 1-8 tells us about the “Motivation of the Future Presence of Christ”, which includes the often quoted and wonderfully TRUE statement: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” ( verse 7) Awesome!
Verses 9-10 are under the title, “Motivation of Future Reward.” All will be judged, good and bad.
Verses 11-16 tells us of the “Motivation of the Love of Christ.” Verse 15 says, “and He (Christ) died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” Who is coming back as Groom for His Bride (you and me), Jesus Christ of course!
These last verses, 17-21, I have written about before but they have to be mentioned again here because they are the HEART of our “motivations.”
Verse 17 under the title, “Motivation of the Message of Reconciliation” “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new Creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
This brings us full circle to our motivation for old age-even when we are not old in years-we need to be old or mature in our hearts, minds, and wills for Christ and our Father in Heaven. Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to get to heaven. And as always Church, how do we get to this point in our lives? By:
TRUSTING AND BELIEVING GOD
All scriptures are from: New King James Version of Prophecy Study Bible, General Editor-John C. Hagee unless otherwise stated.