“The days of our years, in them are seventy years, and if by mastery there are eighty years, yet even in their heyday is toil and sorrow, for it is sheared off hurriedly, and we fly away.” (Psalm 90:10)
“...as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)
Over the years God has spoken to me only in one way - through reading the Bible. I have not had any divine dreams or visions, or inner voices. Following are some of the things I have learned.
* There is only one God through Whom all has been created.
* There is only one Lord, the Son of God, Who became a man named Jesus.
* Except for Jesus, all humans sin and fall short of the glory of God.
* All humans die.
* Jesus came to earth the first time to deal with the sin and death of humanity. He died for our sin, and His death was a sufficient sacrifice to redeem, ransom and save humanity out of death.
* Jesus will free humanity from death and transform them into a new creation - the image of Christ Jesus Himself - immortal, powerful, spiritual and righteous.
* The salvation of humanity from sin and death is a free gift from God in His Grace.
* A few humans come to the realization of the truth about their salvation in this age only because God gifts them with faith to believe this good news– no one can boast, it is a gift from God.
* In a subsequent age, every human will give an account to God regarding their actions, motives, thoughts, and words. The good things will be rewarded and the bad things will bring temporary shame.
* Every human is destined to voluntarily bend their knees and acclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord.
* Jesus came to earth the first time to deal with the sin and death of humanity. He died for our sin, and His death was a sufficient sacrifice to redeem, ransom and save humanity out of death.
* Jesus will free humanity from death and transform them into a new creation - the image of Christ Jesus Himself - immortal, powerful, spiritual and righteous.
* The salvation of humanity from sin and death is a free gift from God in His Grace.
* A few humans come to the realization of the truth about their salvation in this age only because God gifts them with faith to believe this good news– no one can boast, it is a gift from God.
* In a subsequent age, every human will give an account to God regarding their actions, motives, thoughts, and words. The good things will be rewarded and the bad things will bring temporary shame.
* Every human is destined to voluntarily bend their knees and acclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord.
* Humanity will become part of the unified, immortal, and righteous body of Christ. All will be full of grace, mercy, truth and love - just like God the Father.
I have also learned from Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 that…
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace…"
The author of Ecclesiastes asked...
I have also learned from Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 that…
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace…"
The author of Ecclesiastes asked...
"What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race."
I have learned that when when all activity is done in this mortal frame, when all that I experience in this life are just memories I will know that God...
"...has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end..."
I no longer dwell on my sins and the bad memories they bring to mind, but prefer to dwell on the good memories which give me joy and make me laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time. I have learned…
"…that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all their toil - this is the gift of God..."
Over the years I have come to be in awe of God because I know...
"...that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will be in awe of Him." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-14)
Today is my birthday and I am at peace with God. I try to live so that the memories I make in the next year will be harmless to my family and friends.
"...has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end..."
I no longer dwell on my sins and the bad memories they bring to mind, but prefer to dwell on the good memories which give me joy and make me laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time. I have learned…
"…that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all their toil - this is the gift of God..."
Over the years I have come to be in awe of God because I know...
"...that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will be in awe of Him." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-14)
Today is my birthday and I am at peace with God. I try to live so that the memories I make in the next year will be harmless to my family and friends.
Experiencing the sin and failures of this life has shown me that…
“His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
Thank you Father for another birthday, and if I do not have another, I am ready for what comes next!