Ecclesiastes 11:6 (ESV) In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

Morning and evening here represent aging in the believer. Sowing the seed of the gospel is a lifelong endeavor. The energy of youth has been replaced with a body which is worn by the years.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

The gospel is not affected by time. The gospel is just as fresh and effective no matter what our age. It has vitality when we barely have the strength to speak. The word of life does not weaken.

There is within me a sense of urgency that says I am about to see the finish line ahead of me. As a cross country runner I had spent nearly all my energy enduring but have wanted to save a little something for the final kick sprint coming across the finish line. My shame is in wanting to look good at the finish.

Ephesians 6:19-20 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Chapter 6 is the full armor of God chapter but it is these words that are uttered at the end of that discourse. “These words that are uttered at the end.” These words still have power in them, even if I do not. Boldness isn’t about energy nor age, it is about putting aside every doubt and fear.  The hills and valleys of my course have worn me down but the Word is still fresh.

John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Seeing is believing. Is it? Is that true? Thomas saw Jesus do all His miracles and heard all He said but it was not until he saw the risen Christ that he believed. That speaks volumes about us in this church age. We read about all that happened and we see by sight which is a picture of who Jesus was before the cross. That belief is as Thomas before the risen Christ.

What does it take to believe in the risen Christ? What is different between the before and after Christ?

Before the cross Jesus was an obedient servant. After the cross He is Lord and King, all things are under His command.

Before the cross Jesus was a teacher, healer, prophet and light to the world. After the cross we are all those things only because we are in Christ.

Before the cross Jesus spoke the truth and led the way. After the cross the Holy Spirit took over that role.

Before the cross Jesus had an earthen vessel. After the cross Jesus is glorified, the example of what we will become in our resurrected form.

Before the cross Jesus promised us of things to come. After the cross Jesus has been delivering on those promises.

Before the cross Jesus was worthy of honor. After the cross He is worthy of worship.

I said all that to ask this one question. Which Jesus do you seek? Do you honor the man or worship the Lord?

I would not bring this up if it were not that I have seen men try and emulate the Jesus before the cross. All human effort is incapable of duplicating that man. Men fail in trying to live up to that standard. We were never meant to live that way. We were meant to surrender to His Lordship. In surrender we become a vessel worthy of service, fit for use. Selfless not selfish.