“For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:29 BSB)
“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NASB)
“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13 NLT)
Have you ever felt like life has passed you by? As a young person you had such lofty dreams and expectations. Then life happened. One choice led to another, one situation gave way to another circumstance, and before long those dreams and expectations became a thing of the past. What happened? Where did they go?
“For the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance.” (Romans 11:29 KJV)
I have discovered that while my dreams and expectations may have been hidden from me, and perhaps thay have changed a bit, they have never actually left. Down deep inside they still exist. When I take time to listen I can hear their faint voices calling out to me from deep within my soul. They were never taken away no matter how far off course I may have gotten. You see, the “gifts” (God given abilities, talents, and spiritual gifts) and “calls” (God given dreams, desires, and assignments) are “without repentance” (they are irrevocable, they can never be withdrawn, God doesn’t take them back).
“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4 ESV)
Caleb was 85 before his Kingdom Assignment became a reality and he took his mountain.
Moses was 80 when he moved into his assignment and delivered the nation of Israel from bondage.
Abraham was 100 when his promised son was born.
With God, age is not an issue. The passing of time does not diminish his ability to work in and through us. The gifts and calls that he placed within and upon us do not get taken away or leave us.
As we look closer at our late life assignments let’s keep in mind…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 366: Late Life Assignment: Part 2 – Overview: The Gifts and Calls are Without Repentance