2 Corinthians 4:16
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” Yes, Yes its true I have turned 50. So scriptures like 2 Corinthians 4:16 take on a much more realistic, relatable bent. As with each passing decade you can feel it it a little bit more in your bones, in your movement and even in the mirror, we can also feel and see the effects of a world living through century after century of sin. With each passing year - we can see how outwardly our world and society are wasting away. If we focus too much on the wasting away, it can get pretty dark and depressing. Just like if I am focusing on the fact that I am officially in my adolescence of old age, I can lose sight of the fact that even though I may be wasting away outwardly, inwardly I am being renewed day by day.
The world is wasting away becoming old and gray along with the rest of us, but that does not discourage us, that does not defeat us, and it definitely does not stop us. Each day we are being renewed. Renewed in hope, in love and in courage to keep moving forward. We continue to put one foot in front of the other and say, “Lead on Lord, Lead on.” We can’t always see where He is leading, we can’t always feel like we are in the right place dong the right thing, but we can know that His mercies, wisdom and future for us are fresh and new every morning. Filling us with exactly what we need for what He has before us to accomplish that day.
The question is: Am I focusing on the old and gray, or am I looking towards Jesus and trusting Him with the future come what may? He is leading the church, He is leading and guiding our church, the Monroe Seventh-day Adventist Church. We get to decide if we are going to sit and be stagnant wishing for the “good ol’ days”, or if we are going to rise up with new energy to accomplish the plan He has created in us since the first day we drew breath in our lungs.
Let’s rise church, let’s trust in the renewal of our hearts and minds that is available through the Holy Spirit each new day of life. Let’s run this race well, leaving nothing behind, giving are all. It is worth our lives, it is worth everything. When we are looking back from Paradise, we will see that all that hindered us, kept us captive, and slowed us down didn’t matter at all - what matters is Jesus and being with Him eternally. Come join this 50-year-old as we run the race of our lives, treasuring the experience of running beside each other and not just seeing each other at the finish line.
- Pastor Jen