“Goodness, unless deeply rooted, diminishes with age” (François Fénelon).
I have thought a lot about that quote as we move into the new year. It’s from a rather obscure theologian who lived more than 300 years ago, but it speaks right into my soul today.
One of the great leaders who served with Life Action loved this quote. His name is Mark Bearden, and he went to be with the Lord last week. God used Mark so mightily in so many ways, and his death and the new year have caused me to ponder how I will live in the year ahead. I am no longer young. I just turned 64. I don’t want to be a mean, selfish old man! I’ve known a few of those, and I’d bet you have too.
One of the things I’ve realized is that with each passing year, my inventory of the bad things I’ve seen people do grows. But so does my inventory of the great things I have seen God do!
Perhaps whether I will live this year in growing appreciation of God’s goodness or in the growing bitterness and cynicism of self depends largely on which inventory I choose to focus on.
Paul reminded us that I get to decide which things I will focus on:
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Philippians 4:8).
The new year ahead is as bright as the promise, the power, and the presence of God.
“The wind of God is always blowing … but you must hoist your sail” (Fénelon).
I see in my mind a picture of a vast fleet of sailing ships, driven forward by the wind of revival. Who will hoist their sail with me?