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Old age is not a death sentence

                       
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                 " Where there is no vision, the people perish...(Prov 29:18)"

                           Dreams! We, all, have them. Some dream of striking it rich, other dream about marrying that ideal person, but my question to you today is..What is the vision that the Lord has given you? In our last devotional, we saw the importance of knowing the calling that God has for each one of us. In this study, we want to analyze God's vision for you.

                             Moses was one example. He tried to run ahead of God and it cost him 40 years in the desert. When the Lord, finally,  finished his "desert training," he was ready. He was given a message and a charge---To tell Pharaoh to let my people go! His message impacted a nation and got more than a million people out of bondage and torture. All this at 80 years old! (1)

                   Abraham was given a promise. At 75 years old, he was told to get out of his land and family. He left the security and safety of his family to go to a land where the Lord would show him. During that time, if you got away from the security of your family, you were doomed. You could be subject to attacks and even be killed. Family provided security and protection against enemy attacks. 

                 Nevertheless, Abraham obeyed. As a result of his obedience, he would have a son which started the seed known as the Jews. His  obedience created a nation which would have an impact in history. Through that nation, the Messiah was born. We look at the rewards, but Abraham had some obstacles. Patience was key as the promise would not get manifested until he was 100 years old.(2)

                    Face it, when the Lord gives you a vision, there are going to be obstacles. Many would give up before the promise gets manifested. If the Lord has given you a vision, don't give up. Put your hand to the plow and refuse to look back. Who knows? Many reading this may be unemployed and may be thinking job, while the Lord may be thinking business!

                       Maybe the Lord would have you go back to College! I heard the story of a man who passed the state bar and was licensed to practice law at 74 years old. Age is not a death sentence. So what if you are getting old? God is not finished with you yet. Just remember---the best is yet to come. Take for example the man named Job. People love to point out the troubles he went through and yes, he had his plate full of troubles galore. One thing is overlooked in Job's life. He got blessed in the end! Friend, God believes in happy endings.

                          If you read the book of Job, God blessed him more than his beginnings.(3) So what the devil took in the beginning of Job's life was given back to him and more. Losing your house is not a death sentence. Losing your business is not a death sentence. Losing a loved one is not a death sentence. God is a God of new beginnings and if you let him, he can give you a new chapter in your life. Grab a hold of the vision that God has given you and run with it. Who knows what impact it may have in your life and others! God bless. 

Scriptures: (1) Acts 7

                (2) Read Gen chapters 12-21 

                (3) Job 42

                          

                 

Don't let money blind you!

"Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,

 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.

 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day." (Matt 28:11-15)

              These verses have a lot to say about money. There is a saying--"Money talks!" Money can blind you. Money can pervert righteous judgement. Money in itself is not evil, but it can be a tool to either do right or wrong. 

        As you read these verses, the guards that were watching the tomb of Jesus saw a miracle. They saw the stone where Jesus was lying moved by a  angel. Mind you, this stone was no light thing. It was heavy and secured, plus it was guarded. I can imagine when this angel came down, white and shining in countenance, took the stone. He, then, unsecured the rock and moved it aside. A sight like that would have anyone shaking in their boots.

           The word says that they became as dead men. They were, probably, on the floor hoping that this angel would do them no harm. As soon as it was over, the word says that some, not all, came to the high priest with that report. What happened to the ones that did not come to the high priest? Did some refuse the money? Did some stand their ground and joined the disciples in Acts 1? It is not clear what happened to the others, but I like to think that down the road, they might have joined the disciples and preached Jesus!

              This shows a tragedy. Tragedy because the men of the watch missed an opportunity to change their lives, families and community. They allowed the love of money to pervert their judgement. A soldier in those days were not paid much, so it is easy to understand their need of money. Another factor that might have affected their judgement was the religious leaders political connections. Those connections might have stirred the fear of man inside them and could have influenced their decision. The fear of man was bigger than the fear of God!

              The religious people, also, lost a great opportunity. They could have repented and accepted this miracle. It would have changed their lives, but they hung on to their religious traditions and beliefs. The control of the people and their political connections were more important than following Jesus.

               In life, money can change our judgement. I have seen it time after time, when a Pastor would preach against sin. Offerings and tithes would go down and the Pastor would change its message because his/her pocketbook was affected. Another example is a Christian who wants to change jobs because of not making enough. God may have a plan to use him/her, but because of not seeing the big picture, they change jobs and miss out on God's best. 

                 In this day, let's not allow the lure of money to blind us from God's will. Yes, God does not want us to have lack and he understands our need for money, but he will test us. He will say--"Stay in this job, trust me for provision for I have a plan for you!" Trusting God in the finances can be a bear of a challenge, but consider King David. Before he got promoted, there was a bear that he had to kill. (I Samuel 17:34-36) It is interesting that a Bear market in Wall street is one is in which it is, almost, impossible to make money. I am convinced that a lack of money and financial oppression is a Bear Spirit. We need to put out that Bear spirit in order to advance to the next level in our walk with Christ! Let us learn to trust God for our provision and not look at the world as our source.

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