I was recently at a car show after church service. In amongst the '65 Mustangs, '55 Chevies, a '50 Pontiac Cheftain, Studebakers, '40 Chevy Trucks and numerous Chevelles, I was intrigued how these classic cars still shined so brightly and held their beauty. It made me think about the fact is simply that it takes spending great amounts of time with their renewers and restorers, those owners who pay no mind to the effort of it all. I thought about how those machines could never shine on their own. They are much like us in that respect. Just as the noonday sun shines and also lends its light to the moon for reflection alone, we are "moon people." We who have trusted in God's Son reflect His light in our lives and all the more as we spend more time with Him. It makes no matter how old we are, what work we do, where we are on life's grand scale, we can mature by drawing closer to Him and reflect His glory.
"This is what the LORD says: 'Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these things I delight,' declares the LORD." - Jeremiah 9:23-24
God is the One who, in His majesty and awesomeness, shines. He is our Restorer. As we depend more fully on Him, He takes us and makes us to shine wherever we find ourselves settling in. Where is the place to serve God? Wherever He has set you down becomes your greatest place of opportunities to make Him known.
He is our Renewer. Whatever season, whatever storm, whatever river we are crossing, whatever bridges burned, whatever years behind or straight ahead, we have to remember that as we grow in maturity and walking in newness of life, our Renewer is ready to refresh and replenish and show us His endless lovingkindness.
"We may be successful in putting our personal affairs in place, but if we do it at the sacrifice of the more important-putting our spiritual affairs in order-we miss the joy and purpose of life. Strength is found in the wisdom of God, and that is at our disposal whether young or old." - Billy Graham
In our current season of life we can plan to fearlessly charge ahead by:
Choosing to look at the future with hope.
Discover and develop old and new things you like to do.
Enjoy our freedoms.
Recognize and realize that everything passes.
Show our enthusiasm and joy in whatever we put our hand to.
As we walk in newness of life, we can commit to spend time in the Word of God and growing in grace and knowledge, with maturity and confidence.
A prayer:
Dear Father, I trust that what you have in mind is what is best for me. Please bring glory to your name through my life both today and always. In Jesus's name, Amen.
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