Another Birthday!

               I don’t know if birthdays are good or bad. When you ask a child how old they are they will always answer looking forward. What I mean is, even if their 6th birthday was yesterday they will most likely answer the question “how old are you?” with “almost 7.” That’s what kids do. They look forward to the next thing. The best is yet to come, in front of them, not yet experienced, they are excited about it. That’s the good side of birthdays.

                The bad seems to happen as we reach middle age and realize that there is more time behind us than ahead of us. Then the answer to “how old are you?” will be 53 even though tomorrow is your 54th birthday or maybe “29 again” or “18 and holding” or “I don’t have birthdays anymore,” anything that delays the thought of another year having passed and us being older. We have our heals dug in and are leaving marks as time drags us forward another year.

                Birthdays are a time to look forward and a time to look back. The troubling part usually gets to us as we interpret what we see and what we don’t. Looking back may bring regrets over actions taken or missed opportunities, time wasted being “young.” It may lead us to wish a “do over” knowing what we know now so that “things will be different.” It is heart breaking because it can never happen. What’s done is done. The flip side is looking ahead at the ever decreasing time to do anything and or everything. The “skies not the limit” anymore as we recognize our finite nature here on this earth. Birthdays can be a bummer.

                “In the Bible everybody gets a comeback,” says Louis Giglio in a 60 second radio spot on Air1. Look at the examples. Moses was thrown out of Egypt and then goes back to bring the Hebrews with him. Later he is barred (both times because of his sin) from going into the Promised Land and yet at the transfiguration of Jesus he appears with Elijah. Peter denies Christ at the trial and is called by name at the empty tomb. Lazarus dies and Jesus comes and calls him back to life. Joseph is imprisoned three times (by brothers, Egypt and a tomb) and yet his body is returned on the Exodus. That’s what faith can do, bring peace in time.              

                The peace God gave me about eternity when I became a Christ follower is still real to me today. What I didn’t realize then – but I deeply appreciate now – is that faith is as much present tense as it is future tense ~ Dr. Chuck Lawless in Eight Unexpected Blessings of being a Christian.

                Birthdays are a reminder with God all things are possible and come backs are as common as sand. Crossroads is celebrating a birthday Sunday. A year may be done but God is not done. No, God is always moving forward redeeming the past and opening up unlimited possibilities for Eternity in individuals and organisms. Time for a Birthday PARTY!

Bro G