Spiraling Up

Mark Dunagan
05/12/13 - Sunday Morning

Spiraling Up

 “Why can’t things stay the same?”  “Why do things have to change?” ask some who are perhaps less naturally comfortable to change.  And remember the lyrics to Bruce Springsteen’s song, “Glory Days”?  Is everything destined to go downhill after high school, as the song seems to imply?  Is High School the pinnacle of greatness?  Others talk about being over the hill after 30.  Is life basically over after 30, 40 or 50?  Just a couple decades ago Jack Weinburg declared, “Don’t trust anyone over 30”, implying that after 30 one has no wisdom left to offer, or will be thoroughly corrupted by the world or that I am destined to sell out?  Not according to your Creator.

Spiraling Up in the Old Testament

• Deuteronomy 28:1-14

God told the Israelites if they obeyed Him fully (28:1, 14) He would set them on high, and countless precious blessings would overtake them.  They would be established, surrounding nations would be able to see their elevated status, their wisdom and they would be the head and not the tail.  As a nation they would spiral upward, that is IF they made the right choice (28:1 “If”). 

• The Righteous Man of Psalm 1

God promises the virtuous man to be like a tree placed by a clear stream of water, having no dry leaves even during the tough times, and “in whatever He does” there is success (1:3).

• The Worthy Woman of Proverbs 31

The chapter contains a picture of a woman whose life is on an upward spiral.  Her husband is doing well, he is respected in the community (31:23), her children are properly clothed (31:20), and she even has enough to share with the poor (31:20). 

Spiraling Up in the New Testament

On the one hand, the Bible does teach that age will eventually catch up to us and that our physical bodies will and do wear down (2 Corinthians 4:16).  Yet at the same moment we are aging physically, the truth is, that the faithful Christian is spiraling up on the inside: “Yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).  God also comforts us in other verses that share the same encouraging theme:

• 2 Peter 1:8

“For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

• Philippians 3:13-14

“I press on…straining toward what is ahead, I press on”.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10

“Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.  And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia.  Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more”.

• Paul’s “Glory Days”

I am impressed that even when Paul is near the end of his life, that he was still very busy (2 Timothy 4:9-13; Titus 3:12-14).  And even as Paul writes his last letter he does not dwell upon the past either by reminiscing about past victories or longing for “the good old days” when he was younger.  And although Paul had accomplished a lot and had founded many congregations, his mind was still on the future:  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Paul’s life did not spiral down when he was arrested, rather he remained busy. Neither must our lives spiral down during times of change. 

Your Life Does Not Have To Spiral Down

Life is not over after high school, or when we have small children and need to opt for the mini-van, or when the kids leave and the nest is empty, or when we retire, or when we hit 40, 50, 60 or when we are not longer young and strong.  God has so arranged the Christian life that at each stage we are really needed and we actually have much to produce and accomplish and plenty to offer.  “The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old” (Proverbs 20:29).  “Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children” (17:6).  “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life” (16:31).  God often reminds His people to have respect for the aged, because unlike the feeling of certain cultures, they are anything but dead weight, rather they often have a hard earned wisdom desperately needed in every culture.

When Life is a Freeway: Proverbs 15:19

“The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway”. “The sluggard wants to achieve his goals and surmount his obstacles but his spiritual disposition prevents him from doing anything;  in his eyes everything is too difficult, painful, and or dangerous to expend the effort (22:13; 16:13)” (Proverbs 1-15, Bruce K. Waltke, p. 629).  By contrast, the godly person has a free stride and is able to reach their potential. This verse reminds me that we play a big role in determining whether our lives are ones of continual frustrations or of continual improvement, getting things done, accomplishing goals and fulfilling our dreams, both individually, and if you are married, as a couple. 

Practical Ways to Spiral Up

• Instead of being a student in the class, work toward developing your Bible knowledge so you can eventually teach, whether in the adult class, or in other grades.  “By this time you ought to be teachers” (Hebrews 5:12). 
• Instead of wanting to do less, plan to do more.  View retirement years or time after the kids are gone to be more involved in good works: Titus 3:14
• Be making your list right now of what you want to be involved in as you grow older.  Titus was told, “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives” (3:14).
• If you are a man then make time in your schedule to mentor other young men. Take them with you on service projects or a difficult situation so that they have experiences building up skills to lead the next generation in wise paths. If you are a woman, then spend some time getting to know and offer friendship and wise counsel to your younger sisters.
• Take a good look at what the most productive older Christians are doing.  Ask them what they advise about time management.  Be ever open to new opportunities to serve.  Always be willing to try an area of service you have not attempted before. Learning is good for everyone no matter what his or her age.
• Be a resource.  Be prepared with an answer (1 Peter 3:15), not only concerning what you believe, but how you overcame temptation in your own life.  How did you get your anger under control?  How did you get a handle on lust, worry or doubt?  Have specific Scriptures ready.  Be ready to give a clear outline of the plan you followed that resulted in success. 
• While we might step aside in certain areas as we grow older because others need to learn and use their talents, when we step aside from one area, let’s determine to step into another area, to be an encouraging, motivational person to talk to --- an exhorter (Acts 4:36), someone who has workable solutions to prevent and solve life’s most perplexing dilemmas, because if you have been listening to the Creator of the universe for decades, you know the answers that can help those within your sphere of influence, to also spiritually spiral up to bigger and better heights.

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.com
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net