Birthdays. I love them!
I remember as I child I always used to get SO excited around my birthday. It was the time to celebrate, laugh, enjoy good food and music, open up lovely gifts and experience the love and attention from family and friends. It was also exciting because having a birthday meant getting older, smarter, having more responsibility and privileges in the household and also in society at large.
Since hitting my 20s, I have been intentional about setting aside time on my birthday to not only celebrate, but to also look back. To express gratitude to God, reflect on what has happened in my life and think of realistic changes I can make to grow spiritually and cultivate godliness as a woman.
I’ve also been more focussed on glorifying God during the day. As opposed to just focussing on myself, I have realised the importance of enthroning God and letting all I do to celebrate point to him and bring him the glory. A birthday is another opportunity to praise and worship the Lord who is the giver and sustainer of all forms of life.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV) – So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
So this year, as I looked back to bless and remember all the wonderful things that God has done since my birth, he strictly reminded me of the importance to also look forward, and explicitly look forward to my death.
This sounds strange I know, who looks forward to dying? No one, but your death day is of infinite more importance than your birthday, because when you die you will stand before the judgement seat of Christ and give an account for your life.
2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV) – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Christ will judge you on the way you lived, how you spent your time, how you stewarded your gifts, the way you treated others and your own temples, and ultimately whether or not you were obedient to the gospel and have a restorative relationship with God through his death and resurrection.
Hebrews 9:27 (ESV) – And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.
This is a sobering thought, but this truth must govern how you live daily.
We all know the day that we were born, but nobody but God knows the day that we will die. Each day we get closer and closer to our last, like a ticking time bomb just waiting to blow. For this reason, it is of extreme importance for us to be sober, live intentionally, walk in obedience to God and his word, and glorify him through everything.
I want to compel you to know for sure the state of your soul. If you are yet to repent of your sins and submit to the Lord Jesus Christ, then today is the day for salvation! Today is the day to call upon the name of the Lord and receive his forgiveness that will save you from his wrath and give you eternal life!
Acts 2:21 (ESV) – And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
..and if you are a believer who has fallen asleep, turned back to old sinful ways, or has become entangled with the cares of the world, this is a call for you to return to your FIRST love. Do not harden your hearts to the Lord. He is calling you to repentance and desires to have a right relationship with you through his Son Jesus Christ. Seek the Lord now while he may still be found. He loves you dearly.
Joanne Olayinka 