I'm a reflective guy. Tomorrow I turn 40. The number 40 has a great deal of biblical significance. The number symbolizes a long period of time. There are many examples in Scripture: 40 days Noah was in the Ark; 40 years Israel wandered in the wilderness; Jesus was tempted in the wildnerness by Satan for 40 days, etc...My prayer is that I have at least 40 more years left. I hope that the next 40 years are my best years for service to God and usefulness to my fellow journeyers.
Today I am reflecting on the lessons that I have learned in my previous 40 years. And how these lessons can help the years ahead be more fruitful.
1. The sweeter the sin, the bitter the taste in my mouth.
It's a line from a U2 song. It is true. Unfortunately, I have tried most of the sins that there are to try. The ones I haven't tried, I have thought about. The result is momentary pleasure and lifelong regret. Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."
I have discovered that you can establish a good reputation and have a wicked heart. A line from a study in Romans has stuck with me the past month: Reputation is what people think about you. Character is what God knows about you. I need to always elevate the pursuit of godly character. Reputation will take care of itself.
2. Pursuing God has to be active.
God seeks us. The Bible makes this clear in many places. But feelings have to be trained. Those who wake up early to exercise know that many days the body tells us that we are crazy. If the body could speak, it would say, "Sleep in, this is insane. Why do you torture me this early?" But our minds know that many benefits come from exercise: endorphin rush, better health, less aches and pains in the long run, longevity, etc...
Wanting to spend time with God- at least for me- comes and goes in waves. There are many days I don't feel like praying. Many days I don't feel like opening up the Bible to receive daily nourishment. Many times where I struggle through a spiritually rich book. But my mind knows that James 4:8 is true, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." I have discovered that we need a battle plan for growing closer to God rooted in prayer and study.
3. Stewardship is the path
I know that I was created for a purpose: to glorify God. I know that my soul and body will be resurrected to a destination: Heaven or Hell. I know that I deserve Hell because I have a sinful heart. Sinning comes easy. I know that Heaven is an unmerited gift of God's redeeming grace available only through the cross of Christ.
Overwhelmed by God's mercy, I know that stewardship of all that God has entrusted to us is the right path. I fall of this path so quickly. I have an enemy who wants me off the path of faithful stewardship. Because it is where the power of authentic faith lies. When we manage money, ability, time and health with a purpose of building God's kingdom, our lives have influence and power.
I know these things to be true. I pray that the next 40+ years are spent in faithful application of these truths.
4. Every discipline affects every discipline
I think I first heard this on a self-help tape. I have found this to be true. When we are disciplined in our spiritual lives, we tend to be more disciplined with health. When we are disciplined in these areas, we tend to be more disciplined with our tongue. Those disciplines lead to further discipline with money.
The chapter in the Bible that most speaks to me is Hebrews 12. Hebrews 12:11, "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it."
There are many other lessons, but these stick out today. Birthdays are a time for reflection and an opportunity for renewal. Thank God for new opportunities and new chances.
Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus- Philippians 3:13-14.
Life begins anew at 40,
Ashley Hodge
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