"The older I get, the more I realize just how desperately I need Jesus every single day." (Billy Graham)
Who more than Billy Graham, has faithfully brought the Gospel message of hope, redemption, and salvation in Jesus Christ, to millions upon millions of people across the planet over the last 70 years?
No one else has.
And yet, when asked about his amazing life and incredible years of success as a preacher, in his late 80's he had the honesty and humility to make this profound confession:
"The older I get, the more I realize just how desperately I need Jesus every single day."
How many of us have the humility to make the same confession?
One of my favorite sayings of Jesus, and a reminder I need every single day, is Him saying:
"I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)
But in spite of that profound declaration of God's sovereignty and our desperate need for Him, how many of us instead strive to "cowboy up" and plow ahead, as if we can handle this life on our own?
Most of us, I would say, based on what I see every day.
Men, trying to be tough guys, trying to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, 'saddling up' as if they think they are John Wayne.
"No problem God, I got this!"
However, tough guys, who don't abide in Jesus, who blaze ahead thinking they can just 'man up' and fix whatever is wrong in their lives, in their marriages, or with their children, are going to fall flat on their faces, every time.
Branches that are not attached to the vine, wither and bear no fruit.
Mostly I see this with younger men more than with the older guys. But not exclusively.
I know one man who is a bit older than me. He's super fit, strong, and extremely self confident. An Alpha male, A-type personality. Chronic Micro-Manager. Can work his way around guys half his age. Never takes "no" for an answer. It's his way or the highway. He's probably never had a real fight with his wife in all the years they've been married. He's never been divorced or even separated. He's never suffered a truly serious illness, or life-threatening injury or medical condition. He's never been faced with bankruptcy or homelessness. There's nothing that he "can't" do. He's never had to face any serious adversity that would bring him to the point where he had to truly humble himself and confess that he just can't get it done. It's simply not in his vocabulary as a man. Whoever or whatever stands in his way, he will 'man up' and simply bull his way through it.
"Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." (Psalm 127:1)
There's a lot of tough guys out there. They come in all different ages.
Eventually though, life deals every cowboy a bad hand.
He will come down with a serious illness or life-threatening medical condition where he can no longer work. His wife may up and leave him one day out of the blue. One of his children may die in a tragic accident. He may lose every penny he has, due to bad investments in a shaky stock market. He may get fired or lose his business.
Something 'beyond his control' will eventually happen that will show him his desperate need for Jesus every single day.
What side of this equation are you on today?
Although 'age' in itself does not exclusively determine experience, after you have lived 50-60 years, have raised your children to adulthood, have gone through 25 or more years of marriage, have suffered through divorce and separation, have lost both your parents to gruesome sickness and disease, have seen several friends suffer debilitating illnesses and lose their ability to work due to life-changing medical conditions, have yourself suffered setbacks and job loss due to life-changing , debilitating medical conditions and illnesses, and have lived a lot of hard years in this difficult life in a fallen world; you will in fact have gained enough real life experience that should bring you to a place of humility to confess that you don't know it all... that you can't do it all.
And unless you are still a proud cowboy who has not yet been broken by the adversity of life, you should be quick to confess to the Lord:
"The older I get, the more I realize just how desperately I need Jesus every single day."
It was only by God's grace that you were saved. And it's by grace that you breathe God's air and enjoy His sunshine, eat His food, and drink His crystal clear water.
When I was a lot younger I was healthy and strong. It didn't feel like there was anything that was beyond my control. At 30 I didn't have a medical condition that renders me unable to work. At 30 I was like a wild mustang who was not yet ready to be broken. But as I approach my 60's I can't do everything I used to do. And now, after many years of the failures, hardships, and adversity that life dishes out, I am sore and broken, and must confess that the older I get, the more I realize just how desperately I need Jesus every single day. Without Him I can do nothing.
"I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)
Without Jesus you can do nothing.
-Nothing.
- God is Love and Love Never Fails.
