“Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’” Ecclesiastes 12:1
Birthdays remind us we’re getting older! This week, I will celebrate my 78th birthday! In my younger days when I had children at home, I would set aside my birthday to do something special and out of the ordinary. It usually amounted to a fun shopping day or lunch with friends. Now, as I contemplate another special day, I think it will look quite different. I’m reminiscing on past birthdays and looking forward to what the Lord has for me in my remaining years. Sometimes, my bones feel decrepit and ache in the damp weather, but somehow, the Lord keeps me moving forward. I have become the Matriarch of the family on both sides. My two older sisters are with the Lord and on my husband’s side, I have been the Matriarch for several years! It’s a big responsibility!
Here are some little know facts about famous people and their birthdays: Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Plato and Philip Melancton died on their birthdays. John Huss, the martyr, was burned at the stake on his birthday. Philip of Macedon gained his greatest victory on his birthday and David Livingstone repeated his covenant with God each year. The most tragic birthday party ever celebrated took place in the palace of King Herod (Matthew 14:6, Mark 6:21).
We don’t have to look very far in the Bible to see men and women who bore fruit for God in their old age. I can think of Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph and the Apostle John. We don’t have to get bitter as we age, we can get better. Too many people think old age is for people in their second childhood who are impatient with the young, pout when they don’t get their way, or stubborn and critical. They get older, but never grow up! There is really no way to face aging with joy without the Lord Jesus Christ in your life. The days will bring no delight. For those who know the Lord, the days get sweeter as we look back on the blessing of the life He gave us. We can say we have lived in the goodness of God and life gets better and sweeter! Then as we contemplate the life to come in our eternal home with our Savior and Lord, we are overcome with gratitude!
If we have taken that step of faith and accepted Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we now have two birthdays! On our special earthly day, we receive gifts that wear out and change from year to year. But on our second spiritual birthday, we receive gifts that we keep forever, and they never wear out! Ephesians 1:1-13 tells us:
- Chosen and holy –“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. Ephesians 1:4
- Adoption – “In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself.” 1:5
- Grace – “To the praise of the glory of His grace, freely bestowed on us..” Eph. 1:6
- Forgiveness– “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. 1:7
- Knowledge – “He lavished on us. All wisdom and insight to know the mystery of His will.” 1: 8-9
- Inheritance – “In Him we have obtained an inheritance…to the praise of His glory.”V11-12
- The Holy Spirit – “..having believed, we are sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit” Eph.1:13.
These are the gifts of our second birthday, and they are something to celebrate! Happy Happy Birthday!!
Your friend, Jean