As I approach the end of my 40 years of pastoral ministry, I can stand back and try to sound especially wise about what I have learned. I keep looking for some advantages of growing old and maybe one of them is being able to appeal to the wisdom that comes from hanging around a long time. I know one advantage is receiving cards and quips about aging. There is always something to be thankful for like realizing that wrinkles don't hurt. I know people can raise honest and good intellectual questions that deserve good answers, and our Reformed Faith is not afraid of any question.
Life seems so unfair.
None of these questions is especially new or different, creative or stunning. We have heard them all, raised them all, and there are intelligent, honest people of faith who have resolved all these questions . All my years in ministry have taught me that the issue of faith in Christ at its root has far more to do with our hearts than our minds. He wants to know our heart and our will. My favorite Frenchman Blaise Pascal helps us again at this point.