JULY 2023

On July 2nd I will enter the last year of my 40s. That statement is hard to write, harder to read, and even harder to ac-cept. However, I have no other choice but to accept it if I want to be an emotionally and mentally healthy person. The only cure for growing older is to die young.

Two days later, our country will celebrate her 247th birthday. Although the United States of America is not a perfect country, American Exceptionalism is real; and we should thank God for it. American Exceptionalism, with the influence of the Christian Church, is what has made it possible for us to reform and correct our wrongs. I am very grateful for the freedoms I have enjoyed throughout my entire life as an American. May God bless America.

As I think about the passage of time with another birthday right around the corner, I think about David’s words in the Psalms. In Psalm 71:6 he stated, I have leaned on You from birth; You took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is always about You. In Psalm 139:13-16 David said, 13 For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are won-derful, and I know this very well. 15 My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began. This truth should be a great blessing and comfort to us as God’s children. Our lives are not free-floating, detached, far away from the divine, providential plan of God. In times of malady, misery, or madness open God’s Word and read the Psalms. Specifically, remind yourself of God’s providential care over your life.

Each of us has a certain number of birthdays. For some, we probably have had more in the past than we will have in the future. For others, the future celebrations and parties will outnumber the past ones. Regardless of where we are on the birthday timeline, I want us to remember John’s words in his first epistle. In 1 John 2:17 Jesus’ close friend said, The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. I am so grateful that Jesus Christ has already defeated death and secured a home in glory for all His people. I am so grateful that as long as we love and trust Christ, study and follow His Word, and actively strive to live in accordance to His will, we cannot lose now or in eternity.

If you have never turned in faith to Jesus to be saved do so right now. Trust Jesus’ sacrificial, substitutionary death on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins. Trust His victorious resurrection from the dead. Let His resurrection power transform your life. Call out in faith to Jesus and be saved today. For all of those who have been wonderfully saved by Christ, let us spend the rest of our lives seeking Him and striving to follow His Word and accomplish His will. Never for-get, one day, we will be with Him. Wayne Grudem presented a beautiful word of truth in his systematic theology: “When we realize that God is the perfection of all that we long for or desire, that he is the summation of everything beautiful or desirable, then we realize that the greatest joy of the life to come will be that we “shall see his face.” … This vision of God will be the consummation of our knowing God and will give us full delight and joy for all eternity (190).”

-Pastor Clint Miller