Psalm 2:8 HCSB Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.
Vintage
This year I’m celebrating 50 years of being a Christ-follower. Knowing that 50 years is the amount of time for something to be considered antique, vintage, or collectible, I’m asking myself these questions: Am I a vintage Christ-follower? Or is it merely that my Christ-following is vintage? Rather, do I live a vintage Christianity that only points back to 50 years ago or does my life have daily markers for Christianity?
To clarify, do I have a life that daily follows Christ in all ways? Or is my life merely collecting dust on a shelf labelled as Christ’s? For example, a family tradition practiced on both sides of my family was to say to a grandmother or great-aunt “I really like this chair (or necklace or plate or such).” The grandmother or great-aunt then responds with “well, honey, go get the masking tape.” Believe it or not, this made perfect sense to all in or hearing the conversation. Because everyone knew what the masking tape was for – to put a piece of the tape with your name on it on the bottom of the previously mentioned chair (or necklace box or plate or such). Thus, when the time came after the funeral to go through the grandmother’s or great-aunt’s house and possessions, the item was already marked as to whom it was intended to receive it. (Now, there’s a whole other blog post inherent in the discussion as to when that chair, necklace, plate, or such already had a name on it when you went to put your piece of tape on it. But I’ll leave that for another day.)
Having said all that, I’m asking myself – does my daily life reflect that I am marked as Christ’s own inheritance? Scripture tells me that truth over and again, with promises in His empty tomb and blood-red sacrifice lasting forever, not just tape and pencil for a few years or so. I long to leave a legacy that lasts far beyond furniture and finery. I yearn to live a life that brings honor (not harm) to my Jesus. I don’t want to wait until my funeral for someone to say I was a Christ-follower. I want people to see my Jesus alive in me in every part of this day and the next until my funeral (or Christ’s return.) On that note, I join with John in saying “so Lord Jesus, please come soon!” (see Revelation 22:20 CEV).
None of these questions have answers I’d want to put tape on and claim for myself as an inheritance at any time. Yet all of these questions are ones that need asking today and tomorrow and the day after. I must not wait a year, much less 50, to ask myself those and other questions including: Do my choices and constancy point to a living faith and growth or to fear and godlessness? In other words, does my life show my belief in Jesus or my belief in myself? Does my life display Jesus’ lavish love and humility or my own lasting limitations and hurtful arrogance?
Such questions aren’t meant to puff up knowledge or garner compliments; they’re meant to pull away veils and fears. For when the veil or fear is removed, then the beautiful truth is revealed. The truth that no matter how long or how well (or not) I’ve claimed to be a Christ-follower, that time will never begin to compare with how long and how well He’s loved me as His very own. Ephesians 1:4 ICB captures this beautiful truth with these words: In Christ, [God] chose us before the world was made. In his love he chose us to be his holy people—people without blame before him.
There’s no chair, necklace, plate, or anything that could ever begin to compare with the glorious inheritance inherent in that statement. Chose[n]. Love[d]. Holy. Without blame. I could never love God any more than He’s already loved me before the world was made. Oh, thank You, God, for choosing to love me then and to keep loving me now! Thank You for these 50 years now with You and for the eternity yet to come with You!
Hebrews 11:21 KJV By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
Joshua 24:31 NASB Israel worshiped the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and as long as the elderly men who outlived him remained alive. These men had experienced firsthand everything the Lord had done for Israel.
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Written by and copyrighted to Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2024.
Soul Scientist 
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