“Everything that is great in life is the product of slow growth; the newer, and greater, and higher, and nobler the work, the slower is its growth, the surer is its lasting success. Mushrooms attain their full power in a night; oaks require decades. A fad lives its life in a few weeks; a philosophy lives through generations and centuries.”William George Jordan

In the early days of man’s existence, lives lasted for hundreds of years. Today that isn’t necessary because our world population is booming. It took time to build the nations. It started with one man and one woman and centuries of baby steps.  Had that first couple allowed their creator to govern their souls, we would be ageless today. 

Instead, we journey through our existence, taking small steps so that we can reach our goals, evade sickness, enjoy life and maybe even make a name for ourselves.  However, death is lurking in the darkness and will call on each of us at some time. We don’t expect it to come when we’re young, because we think we’re invincible.  Our middle years are filled with time consuming careers and family, and it isn’t convenient for us to die.  As we grow into our waning years, we ferment in thoughts of it until we convince ourselves that every ache or pain indicates some terrible disease.  What we forget is that we have no control over the hour or the day, so we continue to take baby steps. We come full circle in a way.

Now, we are no longer setting goals for this life, but the next.  God has promised every human soul a future – a place where we will be ageless and living in a world without sin – a new world provided for us by the One we originally disobeyed and later spat upon.

God grasps us with His mighty hand. He leads us through this veil of tears.  He determines when we are ready.  He provides a way for us to get there.  Death no longer has an everlasting sting, and we can depart in peace.

“INNOCENCE,” By Kathy Boecher

Our lives begin in innocence, we are too young to know,
But even in those fledgling years, we choose the way we go.
Our minds are bright our will is strong.
We think we know what’s right and wrong.
Our very hearts grow black with sin, our souls drift to and fro.

We can’t escape the grip of sin. It grows within our heart.
It’s like a cancer moving in and tearing souls apart.
There’s not a thing that we can do.
Our fate is sealed, our death is too.
Our path is filled with darkness, we have no place to start.

Our God showed love omnipotent. He sent His own dear Son.
To pay the price for my misdeeds – salvation He has won.
There’s not a word that I can say,
For burdens lifted every day.
My soul was purchased with His blood, the work has all been done.

How can I thank you, my dear Lord, for everything you gave,
So I will too in heaven live. My soul from sin is saved.
I give my heart and soul to you.
There’s nothing else for me to do.
I’ll praise your name forevermore – my sin is washed away.