October 09, 2023 – Monday
Psalm 92:14 NKJV
14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing,
Psalm 92:14 NET
14 They bear fruit even when they are old; they are filled with vitality and have many leaves.
Comments
When I was ordained as a pastor eleven years ago, I was already old by the standard many people used. I was 64. Even though I was diabetic and overweight, I felt fine and full of energy. I was working full time as a systems engineer and assisting our church’s pastor, David ‘Dave’ Elkins.
Life was good and really full and then in early October 2015, three years later, Dave had a heart attack and died. Dave was a great guy and wonderful pastor. Nonetheless, as a result, I ended up as the pastor of the church. A few months later, still working as an engineer full time and as the new pastor, I had a heart attack. Only it was not a real heart attack. It was a virus attacking my heart and mimicking a heart attack. Something had to go, so I retired as an engineer.
Now, eight years later, I have retired as the pastor of what I thought of as my church – really as always God’s church. My health had taken a real downturn as well as that of Sharon, my bride of 52 years. Do not know what is going on, but my health is really improving, as is Sharon’s albeit more slowly.
Anyway, all of that and today we are at day 1 of the Midwest Pastors’ Conference outside Hartford City IN. Heard three great encouraging messages already. But after the first one I mentioned to another pastor that I had retired and am waiting to see what the Lord has for Sharon and I in the future. His immediate reply was, “Don’t worry Psalm 91 says you will still bear fruit in your old age.” We talked for a few more minutes and I immediately searched out the verse and found there was no such verse in Psalm 91. Looking some more, found it in Psalm 92. Eureka!
But who are ‘They’ in the verse? In the NKJV verse 12 we find ‘They’ are 12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. In the NET verse 12 we find ‘They’ are 12 The godly grow like a palm tree; they grow high like a cedar in Lebanon. Surely in a Biblical sense righteous and godly would be considered synonyms.
Bottom Line: For me, obviously the Bottom Line is don’t quit, God still has plans for me, and for Sharon. And for all of you when your life changes, look forward to what God has in store for you for your next adventure. Thus now, after a very long day, it’s time to put this verse to bed by sending it out and then putting myself to bed.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, You always find a way to bless me, each and every single day. I don’t know how to express how grateful and appreciative I am. More than anything I am grateful for having Your Son, Jesus, in my life. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
0 Comments