As far back as my memory will allow me to travel, I can see myself on the swing-set in my backyard. I was waiting for my mother to get home. She had promised that we would go to Dairy Queen for ice cream. The two hours that my sister said that it would be before mom got home seemed like an eternity. Two hours! I couldn’t wait two hours. I think that I began to whine because I vaguely remember my older sister saying that if I didn’t straighten up I wouldn’t get any ice cream. Older sisters –yuk! The next time I wished time would pass quickly was when I was seven and it was my brother’s eleventh birthday. He was a big boy now. He was almost a teenager. I wanted to be eleven. Eleven year olds get to do so much more than seven year olds. Eleven came and went for me and I never really noticed it at all. Life was passing and it was happening so fast. It was near my fortieth birthday and I was sitting around a table with some men of God who were in their sixties and seventies. I remarked at how from twenty to forty seemed to fly by. Why it just seemed like yesterday that Robin and I had gotten married. One of the older gentlemen laughed a little and remarked that if I thought those twenty years flew by just wait for the twenty years between forty and sixty! He was so right. This year I will be fifty-one. In nine more years I’ll be sixty, should the Lord tarry or this body doesn’t give out. Then I will be writing about; where did life go? The Bible has a few things to say about the brevity of life. “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” Jas.4:14 “you have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath.” Ps.39:5 “My days are swifter than a runner, they fly away without a glimpse of joy.” Job 9:25.

Now, I believe that most people look back on their lives and wished that they could have done a few things differently. Some look back with regret while others may just be a little disappointed. Nevertheless, very few look back with fulfillment and satisfaction. It is only by the grace of God that we can live and lead a fulfilling life. That is the only way! Silver and gold are useless in the days of death. Fame and popularity are devoid of any reward. Strength and vigor will quickly flee. But one thing is very fulfilling, one thing is very rewarding and brings much peace and contentment. And that is when we travel back in our memories, even from the moment of birth, for it was even there that God was watching over our lives with the greatest of care. He kept us through childhood, sustained us through trials, protected us through dangers. He has so orchestrated our lives that no one can say that God didn’t give it His all in trying to bring us to Himself. For those who are born-again and know God in their lives, just wait a couple more “hours” He’ll come for us and we’ll go for ice cream! “Look up, for your Redemption draweth nigh!” Pastor Jim