A Biblical Approach to Understanding Life

“…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  John 10:10

One of the richest blessings a Christian discovers is that life-throughout all stages– has tremendous meaning, purpose, and incomparable fulfillment in Christ. The Bible clearly teaches this and those who are saved can wholly testify to this truth. And what a gracious gift that is! As we serve the Lord and are led by his Spirit, how much quality we can add to the lives of others. What assets to the Lord’s church we can be! To be a true Christian who lives with no anticipation of praise, no hidden motives, and no expectation of reciprocation. One whose only prayer at the close of each day is, “Oh Lord, did I by thy grace, love you and serve you with all my heart today? Was I pleasing in thy sight?” Who finds their relationship with Christ more fulfilling and rewarding than anything the world has to offer.

Now we find ourselves at that final chapter time of year, when you kind of peek ahead and count the pages you have left, and you find yourself thinking, “Wait-this is it? How can all of these matters be resolved with just a handful of lines left in the story?”

Whenever I arrive at the end of a book I do exactly the same thing: I close it and just stare at it for a while. I never simply lay it aside and think, “Well, that’s the end of that-on to the next one…” No.  Maybe I am too sentimental, but the way I see it, I have spent a considerable amount of time with that soft covered companion of mine, having met at the same time nightly, and I have learned I simply need to

think about it for a while longer before I let it go.  For I have found those first few moments after I have read the closing lines to be so evocative. Like saying goodbye to someone you are not going to see for a really long time. Actually you have no idea if you will see them again.  And even if you imagine you are going to see them soon-what do you know? We can make all kinds of plans, but plans change.              Every goodbye we say is, well, for me anyway, so significant, even monumental, and yet, there’s never enough time to say it. There is always a plane to catch or a car with its engine running, waiting to take that person away.  And when the book is over, or the person is gone well, I need to think about these events and people for a while.

I view the closing of the year in a similar fashion. I need to reflect upon it-the great times and the not-so-great times. The people who have come in and out of our lives. The ones we never expected to see, and regrettably, the ones we will not see again. I look around me as a Christian and take immense pleasure in the things that are exactly the same, beginning with the unwavering faithfulness of my loving Heavenly Father and the veracity of his Word. The steadfast love and godliness of a husband who has comforted me, counseled me, and led me by his great Christ-like example, whose faith I still follow after all these years-forty-seven to be exact. A loving son who has the unique ability of being everything I need him to be at the moment I need him most and a favorite son-in-law who is a son, a treasured friend, and a prince of preachers. Two daughters who have at all times been my dearest, loving, closest friends and confidants and will remain so forever. A gentle and gracious daughter-in-law whose smile can light up a room. A beautiful, first-born granddaughter who, knowing I love her so deeply and miss her so achingly, took it upon her amazing self to fly alone for the first time in her life, on her 19 th birthday, to spend it with me here in New York. I will never forget that as long as I live. Our youngest granddaughter, who by her delicious wit and sincere tenderheartedness has endeared herself so profoundly to each and every member of our family that we all unanimously agree- everybody needs a Molly in their life. Four grandsons with whom I have such camaraderie and connection, who, by their antics and comedy have made me laugh out loud more times than I can number, yet by their tenderheartedness to the things of the Lord have caused me to weep with gratefulness to God. And as if these loved ones were not ample     blessings in my life, in addition, I am surrounded and influenced by

my beloved and esteemed brothers and sisters in Christ the Lord has         placed in his church, who weave their ways in and out of my life all through the year; blessing me, encouraging me, working side by side with me-sharing burdens and blessings, wisdom and wit- and for whom I have so much love and respect as I watch them grow in Christ and continue to be assets to the Lord’s church. I know the full measure of what they have added to our lives will only be discovered in eternity.

At the close of the year I often find myself looking right back to the beginning when it all started. Who would have ever thought this or that would happen, or that it would end this or that way? And yet, as a Christian I can look back on it all and see the faithfulness of the Lord. The only true constant. How he took care of everything I was so worried about. How he helped me to think spiritually about situations I may have feared and enabled me to have victory over heartaches. I marvel at all of the answered prayer! His faithfulness has provided for me time and time again and his steadfast presence in my life has guided me and proved that blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.

I comprehend once more as I have at this time every year, that I am a debtor to my Lord, as over and over again he has taught me that the primary objective in life, the principal thing, the most fulfilling and rewarding significance of life is that we were designed to bring glory to Christ. Every moment we live. Every life we touch. Every event we encounter-anything and everything with an eye toward Christ. To add quality to the lives of others by becoming who the Word of God has taught us and the Spirit of God enables us to be.  To possess an excellent spirit which enables us to be a benefit to the Lord’s church. To bless our dear friends and loved ones and even at times-our enemies! I would say that is a full order! Always bearing in our minds,“…forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

As we look to 2024, we anticipate bright and blessed days. The babies who are crawling today will be running around next year at this time. Our children and grandchildren will continue to grow and learn and bring us such happiness. The winter will pass and soon someone will say that the robins are back-those hippity-hopping harbingers of spring.  And the year will go on and on.  And I think, in light of it all,

that we are richer than we know, as throughout each and every season of our lives the unfailing understanding, kindness and boundless love of our Heavenly Father presides, more constant than the stars in their courses.

Thank you for reading,

Liz