Anyone who looks for God wholeheartedly will find him. Anyone. The devil wants people to think God is vindictive - that God has plans of disaster for them. You are not washed up. You are loved by God. God is for you.
Just as Jeremiah encouraged the exiles that were taken from Jerusalem to Babylon I believe God wants to encourage us today. God’s word reminds us how much He loves us.
God tells us to work hard and to build strong families. To multiply, to work for peace and prosperity right here where the Holy Spirit has sent us. For me, that’s right here in Lynchburg. For you, it’s where God has you. Do not listen to the so-called prophets and fortune tellers. God has a good plan for us. It’s a plan with a great future. Our hope is in the good promises of Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 29:11).
But we, the older gents, must take on the roles and responsibilities God gives us. We must listen to God. Not the devil and his worker bees. And we must obey Jesus. We are responsible for being the men Paul describes in this chapter. Those who exercise self-control, who are worthy of respect, and who live wisely. Patient men. Loving men. We are the servant leaders of our families. Providers. Protectors. Teachers and encouragers. We are the first to wake up and the first to serve our wives, our families, and our friends.
If we are strong in our faith in God we will live lives that honor the Maker and Perfector of life. Only God can purify us from our sin and only His truth can show us how to live godly lives. Don’t be discouraged. God is not done with you yet. You don’t get off that easy. There is much more work to do.
And yes, how we live matters for our lives and the lives of those in our city. Let’s not deny God by living contrary to His ways. If you are a grandparent or old enough to be one then act like it. They don’t call you ‘Grand’ for no reason. We are to be like the Grand Canyon to the other canyons. Grand.
Maybe you’ve met older Christians who refuse to grow. Those who are greedy; after all the years of supposedly following God, they are still known for what they are primarily concerned about. Their stuff. Their retirement. Their weekend plans. Their health and their ego take priority over anything God-related. Let’s have nothing to do with that sort of behavior. Instead, let’s be the Grandpas and Grandmas God wants us to be - God is for us to do just that. To be grand.
The grandparent lives in a way that honors God. We sacrifice. We help. We pay for others’ needs. We lead as selfless leaders and encourage. We must be an example of sober self-control, honesty, and integrity. Yes, you will screw up sometimes. Get over it. Today’s a new day. Let’s have the courage to press on. I believe the older men and women of the church have so much to offer and that we can and will be worthy of the respect and able to lead as God expects of us. Lead. Jump in. Be the first into battle.
We must be well prepared. We know ahead of time what is required of us. So we plan today. We can and will be grand with the help of our Holy God. It is time for the older men of the church to grow up and live like we know God’s promise of eternity - the dire stakes of heaven and hell. The promise of a new earth. It requires us to think of grand plans and to have grand friends. And to live a life serving together with our Christian brothers and sisters. Sharing life together. Showing each other how we live what is right and good. Teaching the younger men and women the goodness of God.
Help us, Lord Jesus, for we, old and young, are your little children. And we trust You. Amen.
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