Who I Don’t Want to Be As I Age…

 

Then they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?"

So he said, "Here, in the tent."

And He said, "I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son."

(Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?"

And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?' Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."

But Sarah denied it, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid.

And He said, "No, but you did laugh!"—Genesis 18:9-15

We are called here to believe that God can do the impossible. And He can. I mean, I  can just look at my own salvation story and know that this is true. I am a woman whose testimony is that in one incredible moment God not only changed my destiny, He changed my heart as well. One minute I believed one thing and in the very next all of my wrong beliefs were turned on their heads. For a while it was hard even for me to recognize me. Humanly speaking, Sarah’s response is pretty consistent with how all of us might react when faced with an incredible promise such as she had just received.  

Beloved…all of God’s promises to us are pretty incredible and all of them find their fulfillment in Christ. These verses from Genesis this morning got me thinking of who I don’t want to be as I age. I don’t want to be a cynic.  I don’t want to be a doubter. I don’t want to be someone who laughs at the possibility of having joy in her old age.  I want to believe God for every promise. 

Praying this morning that despite my circumstances, by His Spirit, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. I will live each and everyday seeing His lovingkindness before my eyes and be thankful. I will remember that His goodness toward me endures continually.  As I draw nearer to the time of my departure from this earth may my faith be strengthened and  “my” light shine brighter so that His hand of glory becomes increasingly evident in my life.  I will walk through the shadow of death remembering that for me it is truly just a shadow. The best is yet to come. Heaven awaits. Surely, goodness and mercy will follow (literally hunt me down…they are impossible to outrun) all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

Do this work in me Father!

Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labor of the olive may fail,

And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

And there be no herd in the stalls—

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The LORD God is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer's feet,

And He will make me walk on my high hills.—Habakkuk 3:17-19

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;

Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;

Let those also who love Your name

Be joyful in You.

For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;

With favor You will surround him as with a shield.—Psalm 5:11-12

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips shall praise You.

Thus I will bless You while I live;

I will lift up my hands in Your name.

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,

And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.—Psalm 63-3-5

Then our mouth was filled with laughter,

And our tongue with singing.

Then they said among the nations,

"The LORD has done great things for them."

The LORD has done great things for us,

And we are glad.

Bring back our captivity, O LORD,

As the streams in the South.

Those who sow in tears

Shall reap in joy.

He who continually goes forth weeping,

Bearing seed for sowing,

Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,

Bringing his sheaves with him.—Psalm 126:2-6

To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,

The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That they may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."—Isaiah 61:3

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,

My soul shall be joyful in my God;

For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,

He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,

And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.—Isaiah 61:10

Your words were found, and I ate them,

And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart;

For I am called by Your name,

O LORD God of hosts.—Jeremiah 15:16

You have put gladness in my heart,

More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.—Psalm 4:7