Yesterday, I started a series on how important Jesus is for all of us. It actually was to be one post, but I got a little carried away, which happens to me often these days. Through all the stages of our lives, from young to old, we need His presence in our lives. Here is part two.

Children have many of the same problems we had when I was growing up, but everything now is right in their faces. They’re exposed to so much darkness – ugliness – sin – immorality – hatred – all about me syndrome – and fears for the future. The choices for future occupations have widened so that it often takes more than four years of college to figure out what you’re going to do when you grow up Crime rates are on the rise. The crimes seem to be even more heinous than they used to be, but I think the fact that we hear about them more, contributes to the anxiety over them. 

During that second part of my 80 years, things continue pretty much the same, but they’re packaged differently. A terrorist attack on NYC changed life as we knew it. A surge of patriotism rose from it. Still, a new sense of vigilance was necessary as we became suspicious of different cultures and nationalities. Another war erupted in a part of the world that seemed to be from another time in history. Drugs became readily accessible to take some of the edge off – some prescribed while others were purchased on the street. Homelessness reached an all-time high. A worldwide pandemic forced isolation. A love affair with technology rather than interaction face to face became the norm. The desire for success and wealth became the utmost goal for many. Racial tensions remain. We became more concerned about ourselves during this time as a nation. Technology surges on and soon artificial intelligence will make it possible for us to sit around and do nothing. The sexual revolution created all kinds of new letters to the LGB logo. Not to mention gender identity. It’s enough to shake your brain. 

The darkness of this world seems impossible to overcome when we examine our past. However, that doesn’t mean it has to stay this way. When you look at two generations alone, you can see the common thread is a very dark and frightening world. So how do we fix that? Only God can solve these issues. He has given us the tools to help our children endure what life throws their way. He gave us Jesus, His only Son, true man and true God – to carry our burdens to the cross – to take away our sin – to give us hope for a future with Him. I don’t know how many years I have left to wander this mortal coil, but I do know that the only One who can and has changed everything is Jesus.

Tomorrow, I’ll touch on some of the big events that brought me to my knees and turned my heart in the right direction. By the way, the journey is ongoing. We never stop learning, even when our memories fail. We all have a story, don’t we? Mine doesn’t hold some big transformation or a light on the road to Damascus experience. It does show a gradual growth of faith that occurred in my life. Jesus will change all hearts when they come to HIm and let Him do so.

2 Peter 3:9 ESV  “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”