Bible Reading
One of my resolutions for the New Year is to re-read the entire Bible once again. I still read, daily, my scripture reading and daily devotion, but this goal of reading the Bible in a year always allows me to read anew and discover anew the Word of God and the magnificent stories between its covers.
Recently, while driving home, my wife called to check on me and my location. She said, “You sound tired.” I replied, “That’s because I am always tired.”
It’s amazing how someone in his 50s has pains he didn’t have in his forties. It’s amazing how someone in his 40’s has pains he didn’t have in his thirties. You get the idea. I really do dread this trend I am starting to see and experience. This leads me to the book of Genesis, chapter 5.
In Genesis we read about the ripe old ages that men were living in that day. Adam lived to be 930 years. Seth lived 912 years. Enosh lived 905 years. Jared lived 962 years. And of course, the one we have all heard about, Methuselah lived to the ripe old age of 969.
When I read this and started multiplying my aches and pains, I quickly realized that I have no desire whatsoever to live a long life like these men of old. I welcome the Lord to take me home long before one of these ages.
Let’s look at it this way; our nation’s age is about 238 and one-half years old. Think of all the changes our nation has gone through over the last, almost, 239 years. These men were living four or five time longer than the age of our nation. That’s unbelievable. But, the Lord we worship is a remarkable God, is He not?
Another way to look at this is to see how lucky these men were to have additional years to get their faith in order before the physical bodies gave up life. When I see people die a premature death, I always hope and pray that they had a relationship with the Lord.
When I see people getting up in age and they still do not know the Lord, I hope and pray that they experience a relationship with the Lord before it is too late. For these folks, I wish they could have a 100 or 200 years of living to figure out that God is the only way to life eternal and to eternal happiness.
I feel sure there have been people that I should have witnessed to and did not. I feel sure there are people that you should have witnessed to and did not. And for this, I am eternally disappointed in myself and in you, too. As we move through this year, I hope that when we have the opportunity to witness to another about our Lord, about His Word, the Bible, and how much God values each and every human being, we will do just this—witness.
As the poem says, it’s not the birth date or the date of death that matters the most. It’s what you do with the dash in between. So whether we live to be 60, 70, 80, or 90, let’s make it a point to always witness in our daily living for the Lord.