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And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great (Job 8:7, ESV).
When a 15-year-old wakes up on New Year’s Day, she thinks, “Yay! I’m going to turn sixteen in 2025 and get my driver’s license.” When a 30-year-old wakes up on New Year’s Day, he thinks, “Yay! I got married last year, and my wife is expecting. Nay! I’ve got to get a new job to pay the bills.”
When 66-year-olds wake up, they think, “Nay! Not many years left; we had better make the most of the next few years. But Yay! So much opportunity to serve God!”
When you woke up this morning, were you “Yay!” or “Nay!” for the New Year? The eminent e-social prognosticator G.C. Edwards once said. . .
There are only three stages of life: getting started, maintaining momentum, and winding down. Too often, the “Yays” of getting started are overcome by the “Yay/Nays” of maintaining momentum, and hopefully, life settles into more “Yay!” than “Nay!” as we age.
If I say so myself, there is a lot of wisdom in the above paragraph. But to add some legitimacy to G.C.’s three stages of life theory, let’s consider the Apostle Paul.
Getting Started. . .
We understand Saul’s enthusiasm before he became Paul when he immediately began preaching the gospel to the Jews (even though he was called to preach to the Gentiles).
And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!” (Acts 9:20, NLT)
And what was the result of this “getting started” enthusiasm? He so incensed the Jews that. . .
During the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall (Acts 9:25).
Lots of “Yay!” when we begin something new, and lots to learn!
Maintaining Momentum. . .
After an exciting first missionary trip with miracles and hundreds if not thousands saved, Paul went to Jerusalem, discussing with the bigwigs of the Church the gospel that he was preaching.
Some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses” (Acts 15:5).
We experience initial enthusiasm with our ventures and then learn endurance from the criticism and challenges of naysayers. At this stage, we are tempted to not only say “Nay!” to God’s will but also to become a “naysayer” toward the calling of others.
Winding Down. . .
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:7-8a, NASB).
Winding down doesn’t embrace stopping our service of the Lord or even monotonous retirement, but should ask the question, “How can I continue saying “Yay!” to God’s calling and promises right to the end of my life?”
I hope this morning — and throughout 2025 — no matter what stage of life, that we all find more “Yay!” than “Nay!”