There is the story about the disc jockey handed new copy just as he is about to announce the next number. He quickly reads it: ”This next song is dedicated to John Jones who is 111 today.” He does a double take and exclaims, ”My, but that is a great age!” After a second look he sees that he has made an error and rereads the copy saying, ”This next song is dedicated to John Jones who is ill today.”

One hundred and eleven is a great age, but so is one hundred and one. Our father-in-law was born in 1884 in Birmingham, and as a boy he personally knew Bro. Robert Roberts. There are few, if any others, living today who could say that. He loves to talk about the past as most old folks do. Think of the things that have transpired since he was born. Most of the modern conveniences we take for granted today were unheard of when he was growing up. Turkey was in full control of Palestine and there were few Jews there; Russia had no military might; and the ”sun never set on the British Empire.”

What would Brother Roberts think if he could see the world conditions that we see? What do we think as we see them? Are we so blase and calloused that we are almost tempted to say, ”Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation?”

Things have not really continued as they were from the beginning of the creation – it’s just that we have witnessed them come one at a time during our lifetime, and so we may not be as excited about them as we should.

As we see 1986 begin we wonder what will happen this year. It could very well be that 1986 will be the year of the return of our Lord, and that none of us will be here this time next year. We are living in a great age whether or not we are of a great age. Let us each live this year as if it were our last, whether we are 16, 60, or 101.

How can we do that? By realizing that there is really only one purpose for our individual existence. When Jesus comes to call us to his judgment seat, that moment is the end of our mortal life as we know it. At that point we will either become immortal and live forever, which will make 101 seem like a tiny speck of time, or we will be destroyed; and that will mean that our entire life of however many years will have been a total waste.

We are now determining which verdict will be ours. It is the Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom, so we know He wants us in it. What does 1986 hold in store for us that is more important than the kingdom? A new job, money, a sport, a new home? These things will seem unimportant when we face the Lord Jesus Christ and he asks us, ”What have you done for me?”

How wise we are to decide to make 1986 our year for the Lord. It will be a great year if we do. It will be a disaster if we don’t, no matter what else we may achieve.

If we completely surrender ourselves to God this year, He will cause all things to ”work together for our good” for ”the eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”

Some of the things that would have upset us and many of the trials that would have caused us concern will no longer bother us, for we, in 1986, will have learned in whatsoever state we are in, therewith to be content.

Yes, 1986 can be the best year of our life if we live it as if it were our last. Even if it isn’t, it will be better because we lived it wholly and totally for the Lord. Let us decide right now that this year we will surrender our lives to God. We join Paul in exclaiming, ”I can do all things through Christ which strengtheth me.”