(I wrote this devotional yesterday in honor of my daughter Becky’s birthday)

Ah, the first day of Spring; my favorite season! Hope springs eternal! Spring training for baseball…a new spring in my step!

Those lyrics are from the 60’s band The Byrds’ Turn, Turn, Turn written by Pete Seeger. I always find it interesting when critics of organized Christianity quote Scripture:

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

I wonder if Mr. Seeger gave any of his royalties to God. You notice that the lyrics page says the song was adapted from the Bible. Actually, the song is completely from the Bible with the addition of the following nine words

Turn, turn, turn
I swear its not too late

What Mr. Seeger meant as an anti-war song, Solomon meant Ecclesiastes 3 as a reflection of life; that there is a time for everything. Life happens and we have no or little control over it but thanks be to God that He is in control of not only our time here on earth but also eternity. There are no coincidences in life; God engineers the circumstances of our lives. And as is true of nature, we humans go through seasons in our lives.

Today is not only the first day of Spring it is also my daughter Becky’s birthday. It is hard to believe that she is 23, graduated from college, and working hard to become a professional. She is already facing the challenges of adult life and she is doing it with her natural gusto and humor. She is my joy. Life with Becky is never dull; she is always so entertaining. She is able to keep life in perspective because she knows our time on earth is just a momentary detour in eternity. She understands what Solomon taught:

“What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 3:9-13)

I’m am so thankful to Jesus and give all the glory to God that my children are Christians because watching them grow into adulthood has been a pleasure and a joy. Their outlooks on life are 180 degrees out from what mine was at this age. I was in the Army, wanting to have nothing but a sinfully pleasurable life and becoming rich. My children desire to be successful and they already are, but that is tempered with a biblical perspective that all they have and are is because of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Today my family celebrates Becky’s life; there is so much to celebrate. But we rejoice in eternal life; that blessed hope through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ:

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11-14)

Do you know that hope? Today Becky marks her 23rd year on earth and begins a 24th and her life will be filled with joy not because of what she has externally, but for who she is internally and eternally.

She is in a season of life where hope springs eternal and her future is bright. One day she’ll look back on these times, should the Lord tarry, and she’ll marvel at how Jesus was with her every step of the way.

Do you look at life that way? Is there something missing? Could it be a relationship with Jesus Christ? If you answered no to the first question and yes to the last two, then today is the day to make that right.

Happy birthday Becky, I’ll see you next week!

I pray you all have a blessed weekend. And please remember to go to church on Sunday.

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

Tags

Christianity, Culture, History, Morality