But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. –Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
Those of us who are between 62-80 years old are called Baby Boomers! Each year we know friends, relatives, and acquaintances that die of heart disease, many forms of cancer, and numerous other issues. When we gather to talk, our conversation is often about our prescriptions and treatments for all kinds of faltering body functions and organs. The “writing is on the wall” we might say: none of us is getting out of here alive! In 10-20 years (or less) for many of us, our bodies will die and we will move on to a new phase of eternal life, either with God forever, or separated from God forever (your choice: make the right one!).
For those of us who have put our faith and trust of our life in Jesus, we should not be afraid of that reality at all! We know we have been forgiven by God through Jesus’ death for us, and through his resurrection power we have been made into new creations! We are now brothers and sisters together, members of his present and future Kingdom, no longer just citizens of this fallen, confused, and sin-destroyed world we see around us.
BUT….
Are you living as a hope-filled, joyous son or daughter of Jesus’ Kingdom, finishing your life with hope and peace and excited about our amazing future? Are you looking for opportunities to share the hope that you have with friends and relatives, inviting them to trust Jesus and enter into his Kingdom forever?
OR…
Do you spend most of your thoughts and time trying to live the “good life” of retirement? Are your goals to travel the world and hit every cruise, enjoy great restaurants and all the senior discount breakfasts, lower your golf handicap from 25 to 15, and all the other great things we can do in retirement?
While there is nothing wrong with enjoying the beautiful world that God has created, nothing wrong with some travels and enjoying our favorite hobbies, we as followers of Jesus are called to more than that. Our call is to “finish well”, to share our hope in Jesus, and live such a peaceful, hopeful and grateful life in Jesus that others will see us and want to know where we get this! (Jesus is the answer, of course.)
Our world and culture will ALWAYS distract us, daily, from Jesus and his Kingdom by screaming about issues and problems that plague our world. Today, we hear of wars, division and vile hatred, affordability, political enemies, capitalism vs. socialism/communism, and all the other daily headlines that warn us that the upcoming elections are life and death! And yes, these ARE important issues, and the Bible can give us insight on all these issues if you actively READ it, listen to the Holy Spirit, and are guided by Spirit-led Christian leaders. (Not by false teachers who are more influenced by cultural fads than never-changing biblical principles.)
THE KEY:
DEVELOP A BIBLICAL, JESUS-CENTERED WORLDVIEW, AND THAT WILL DICTATE HOW YOU SEE THE CULTURE AND ALL THAT HAPPENS IN THIS PRESENT WORLD!
As Baby Boomer followers of Jesus, we are positioned well to share the hope, the joy, and the wisdom and peace of God with a confused, angry world, taking their eyes off the screaming voices of hatred and mistrust, and letting them see God’s bigger plan for their redemption, and the future redemption of the world!
HERE ARE TWO BIBLICAL TRUTHS THAT IF YOU UNDERSTAND THEM AND APPLY THEM TO EVERY ASPECT OF YOU LIFE, WILL BRING YOU SPIRITUAL CLARITY, PEACE AND ASSURANCE, AND ALLOW YOU SHARE THE ULTIMATE HOPE OF JESUS WITH EVERYONE YOU MEET, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHOM YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH ON SOME OF THE CULTURAL ISSUES OF THE DAY:
1) THIS FALLEN WORLD SYSTEM IS PRESENTLY (BUT NOT FOREVER) UNDER THE CONTROL OF SATAN. EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IS PART OF A SPIRITUAL BATTLE THAT IS REAL AND UNSEEN, BUT INFLUENCES EVERY GOVERNMENT AND HUMAN TEACHING THAT WE HEAR.
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. -. Ephesians 6:11-13 (NIV)
– Paul warns us that our “fight” is not against other people, nations, political enemies, or crazy thoughts and ideologies primarily; it is against Satan and his demonic forces that want to mislead and distract us, and keep us away from Jesus and his message of redemption, forgiveness, and hope.
– If you find yourself filled with fear, hatred for others, constant anxiety and hopelessness, you are right where Satan wants you! You are lost and listening to him, not Jesus.
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)
– Our fallen world has always used military weapons to kill and destroy, but perhaps even more destructive is deceiving half-truths and outright lies that sound good initially but lead to hardship, chaos, and destruction. Any human idea that disagrees with God’s biblical revelation of truth is flawed and can lead us away from God. Some are better than others, of course, and we have to discern what is best of these flawed ideas and work to correct the flaws and make them possible avenues to share the truth about Jesus.
– Powerful ideas can change hearts, minds, and nations, and God’s Holy Spirit can teach us to enter the world of ideas under his direction and power and change people’s minds to see Jesus and the hope he offers to the entire world. Again, READ YOUR BIBLE to get more clarity and discernment, and the false ideas of this world will get clearer and easier to discern.
2) JESUS IS THE ULTIMATE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING, AND THE ONLY WAY GOD PROVIDES FOR SALVATION! MAKE JESUS THE CORNERSTONE OF EVERYTHING YOU DO AND THINK ABOUT, AND YOUR DAILY LIFE WILL BE MUCH MORE PEACEFUL AND PRODUCTIVE!
This fallen, confused world (again, under Satan’s rule and deception) wants us to believe that there are many “paths” to God and many different options for “Heaven” depending on your culture and background. It’s like going to Comerica Park for a Tiger’s game and having six different gates to come in at. No matter what gate you enter, we all end up at the same field watching the same game!
BUT, the Bible is clear that there is ONE way to God and an eternal and amazing life, and that is through Jesus only!
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” – John 14:6-7 (NIV)
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12 (NIV)
REMEMBER…
WE ARE IN A SPIRITUAL BATTLE! SATAN DESIRES TO CONFUSE, DISTRACT, DISCOURAGE, AND DRAW US AWAY FROM JESUS!
We are encouraged today to “believe” and “follow” all kinds of ideologies and people:
– other religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Scientology, become “one with the Universe”, etc.
– political ideologies such as democracy, Communism/Socialism, capitalism, various political parties and leaders, etc.
– news pundits, “influencers’ online, an education system that seems to create more confusion that light, and many other voices
We, as followers of Jesus, are to be DIFFERENT than the world!
-Our faith and trust are in Jesus, not fallen people and ideas.
– We are to live in a way that is worthy of Jesus and draws people to him.
– Our ultimate citizenship is God’s Kingdom, not this present world under Satan’s control.
Fellow followers of Jesus, brothers and sisters, what a great opportunity we have to rise above the Satan-led confusion and hate-filled dialogue of today, and bring people to Jesus for healing and new life! When we focus on Jesus primarily, God will use that to change the culture around you, and bring salvation, hope, and peace to some of those you have the opportunity to talk with. Don’t use the words and the weapons of the world: read your Bibles daily, pray, and let the Holy Spirit lead your thoughts and actions. See what amazing things God can do!
Peter gives us an encouraging reminder in I Peter 3 on how Jesus wants us to think and act as we represent him:
8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. -1 Peter 3:8-9, 13-16 (NIV)
In this culture of partisan politics, fear and vile talk, choose to be different!
Be an ambassador for Jesus, and see what God might do with your life!