33

I’m 33 years old this year. That is kinda weird because I don’t feel that old. I know it must be true though because I just found my first gray hair or two. My wife tells me I have nothing to worry about. After all, scripture does say “the honor of old men is their gray hair” !!! In an effort to not let my life get away from me, I’ve spent some time thinking about what it means to be 33 and where I am at this point in my life. I have 2 wonderful kids and the best wife one could ask for. That is definitely an aspect of my life that I can savor and relish. God has blessed me with a good job and placed me in an environment where I can learn and grow. We have our own home on a nice piece of property. We have a place around the corner at the lake where we can spend time during the summer. Our church is a great place to worship and fellowship with other believers. We have friends and family that we can call on when we need them. All of these things are great and a blessing from the Lord. But as great as they are, God has shown me over time that they are not what life is about. I am only just beginning to see that Christ’s purpose for me in this life is bigger than my own comfort. It is bigger than my success. It is not just about my attaining to a certain income level or economic status- not just about getting a bigger house or a nicer car or a fatter 401(k). His plan has more to do with my eternal future than my present existence.
One of the reasons I have come to these realizations, I believe, is because I am 33 now. What is the significance of 33, you might ask? It is believed that Jesus was 33 when He was murdered. This fact has hit home with me now more than ever. Jesus was 33 when He died- that means I am a lot like Him. My body is similar to His. I look at my hands and imagine they must be similar to the hands of Jesus- which were pierced with nails. My God, how did You endure that!?! The emotions I feel on a daily basis- He probably felt those too. The frustrations of my life- I bet He could identify. The temptation of the flesh- He knew what that was like. The Bible says Jesus was “tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” Wow. So that means he probably had thoughts that sprang into His mind and tempted him just like I do- but He knew no sin.

He was so young to die – yet He chose the cross willingly because He knew that was His purpose. He came to redeem mankind and pull us out of the muck and the mire of our sin. He was living His life on earth intentionally, not just by accident. Was He sad to leave this earth? I don’t believe so- because He knew He was returning to His Father. Was His job tough? Incredibly so- so tough that He even asked God the Father to take away the trial before Him at one point. Yet He submitted His will to God. That God-man of only 33 years gave His life on the cross for me- so that I may have eternal life.
In what is left of my 33rd year, I hope I can learn something about living my life with the same kind of purpose that Jesus lived His.