Well…I did it, I turned 30. Not that I had any choice, but decided to step into this new decade as gracefully as I could and not dread it. And awesome friends and family made it the best birthday yet, so it’s definitely off to a good start.
I’ve been told by numerous people that my 30s will be the best decade yet. “The drama is behind you”, “You know who you are”, “Thirty, flirty and thriving.” I am not ashamed of 30, I don’t feel 30 and many people would say that I don’t look 30, it’s just a number and I’m excited for this new phase of my life. 30 is where it’s at. After all…what was so great about my 20’s?
There is one thing that was great about my 20s: I found Jesus and got to know Him better. Granted I first met Jesus when I was 17, let Him be my Savior at 18, and started to know about Him at 19, but it was when I was 20…the amazing summer of 2001 when I started that personal relationship with Him and intentionally started to get to know Him and how much He loves me.
God has been protecting my heart for 30 years…even during those years when I had no idea how much I was hurting Him and sinning against Him with my selfishness and pride. Sure those who knew me back then could see that I have always been servant minded and had a heart for loving family and friends and would do anything for anyone…that was God all along and I never knew it. But the motivation behind those good works was so selfish. I figured that I could earn my way into heaven if I did enough good things. I was also doing those things because I wanted to be liked and accepted, I wanted to feel valued and not left out. I figured that if people needed me than they would keep me around. Human motivation. SELFISH MOTIVATION.
And although I do those same things…my motivation has changed because I know Jesus and realize that I cannot earn my way into heaven. I serve others to show them the love that God has shown me. To show them that there is something different in me, that I have been called to a higher standard. That when I don’t feel like doing something, or when I’m tired…it doesn’t matter, that I will put others above myself just as Jesus put me above Himself when He died for me. And if He was willing to do that for me…He has done that for you.
Jesus loves me and gave His life for me, not because of how good a person I am in the worlds view, or how many good things I do for other people, just because I am his creation…as you are (John 3:16). I now know and truly believe that I did nothing to earn His love, and that the forgiveness of our sins is a gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), and nothing that I could do could make him love me any more or any less. But think about it: If I could earn my way into heaven by the things that I do here on earth, then why did Jesus have to die? Jesus is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. No one will come to the Father but by Jesus (John14:6). No one gets to heaven unless they KNOW Jesus…not just know about Him (heck, even Satan knew about Him), but have realized and believed that we need to stop running from God, turn and run TOWARDS God, and all that He has for us.
“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” -Titus 3:3-7
So, yes…I know I’m going to heaven, not because I stop in the middle of a run to mow an elderly ladies yard, but because I have a relationship with Jesus, the creator of the universe, and the creator of you and me.
Do you have a relationship with Jesus? You can!
My friend Laura has written about how you can know Jesus in her blog, and I pray that you check it out. (http://laura-lewis.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-wish-i-knew.html)
With this faith, truth and love I willingly enter my 30s excited to see what else God has in store for me and hoping to share it with all of you.
