Jump Start # 3639

Matthew 14:6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod.”

Today is my birthday. I am out of town preaching on this day. I guess other than being with my family, my next favorite choice of what to do would be to preach. There are a couple of birthday parties found in the Bible. One is our verse today, which led to the beheading of John. Another is found in Genesis, when Pharaoh threw a feast for his servants on his birthday. That led to the hanging of the baker. In both of those birthday bashes, someone was executed.

Another year older, that’s what birthdays mean. There are certain milestones that are important. Being old enough to drive is a big one. Being old enough to vote. Maybe hitting that age when your parents said, “When you are older you’ll understand.” And, now you do. Old enough to retire, which more accurately is, ‘saved enough to retire.’

The more numbers that one puts to their name, the less excited one becomes about getting older. And, the reality is, the sand is running out of the hour glass and one realizes that more years are behind him than there are ahead of him. Some just ignore that fact and plow ahead as if they’ll live on eternally on this planet. But others reflect. They realize that some dreams will not come true now. It’s too late. Some regret that there are items on that bucket list that will not be crossed off. It’s too late.

But it’s not sadness that fills the eyes of the believer. He realizes that he is one day closer to seeing the Lord. In Philippians, the apostle said, “having the desire to depart and be with Christ for that is very much better.” And, in Corinthians, “we prefer to be absent from the body and to abe at home with the Lord.” Being with the Lord excited them. Being with the Lord was a grand anticipation. There was no dread in facing death.

But as another birthday rolls around, here are some thoughts.

First, I have been blessed to live here another year. Each year is filled with ups and downs. Things we never want to forget and things we hope to never remember again. It has been another year to thank the Lord for His grace and mercy. It has been another year to encourage the friends of God. It has been another year to grow in faith.

As some get older, they tend to become grumpy, mean and complaining about everything. But others, seem to get kinder and sweeter as the years go by. Why is it that way? Some get better and some become more sour? It has to do with the direction one is traveling. It has to do with following the Lord.

Second, as a believer, when one gets closer to the end, they become more excited about the next place they are going to. Concepts such as: eternal; raised; new bodies; new heavens become much more fascinating. Our story doesn’t end. It never ends. Death doesn’t have the final word. There is no “The end,” to our lives. We live on and on as the hymn states. Anticipating, like a child awaiting a trip, so is the believer excited about what He is about to see.

Third, after a certain point in life, age becomes just a number. There are some old people who are not yet forty years old. They look old. They act old. Then there are some in their 70’s who seem very young. Age is a number and with what talents God has given us and what open doors are before us, we continue to serve the Lord and help others. Spiritual maturity is something that God wants in all of us. Growth is how we get that way.

Through the years a person will see a lot of changes—some good and helpful and some not so good. A person will also see that the Lord has been good and blessings are too many to count. Joy is not being in a certain place. It’s not being a certain age. It’s not doing just fun things. Joy comes from within. It’s knowing who you are and who you belong to. It’s knowing that the future is only going to get better and better.

If the Lord allows, all of us will enjoy yet another birthday this year. Make the most of it. Be thankful. Use the opportunity to do good.

Roger