Go forth and make disciples of all nations

For some strange reason, when I watched the St Louis Cardinals I was always fascinated by that Matt Carpenter’s dark beard.

Yes, even a Kansas City Royals fan will watch the St. Louis Cardinals from time to time.

When I saw Matt Carpenter’s beard, I guess it reminded me of the days of my youth.

Dark and full were the key words.

It did seem strange the other day seeing him in a New York Yankees uniform with just a dark mustache because that is all that team policy allows.

Even the sports commentators talked about his former dark beard.

The other day I was rummaging through some stuff and I found a Just for Men’s beard treatment.

I had purchased it during the pandemic, when you could not go to a barber shop, and I had intended to color my beard.

So before getting ready for the day, I told my wife “let’s go for it” and she helped me color my beard.

You can imagine the comments that I got on social media.

Some said I look good with my gray beard.

Others said that I was just being vain.

One friend said she was not judging because she did a thing once a month. I assume she colored her hair.

One asked me if I was having a second midlife crisis.

One 80ish friend noted he was proud of his grey whiskers because he earned every one of them.

It is a longstanding Jewish tradition for men to grow beards, but like most, I only share the Judeo Christian heritage.

The rabbis considered beards attractive, often referring to them as hadrat panim, or the splendor of one’s face.

The practice derives from Leviticus 19:27 in the Torah, which states: “You shall not round off the corners on your head, or destroy the corners of your beard.”

I quoted the line from “For the Love of the Game,” when Vin Scully says:

“Push the sun back up in the sky and give us one more day of summer.” – Vin Scully to justify my action.

If we could only push the sun back up in the sky one more day or if we could “turn back time” as singer Cher suggested, wouldn’t that be wonderful?

I know that we can’t and according to the scriptures we are given just so many days.

The writer of Ecclesiastes says, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. 3:1-2

The writer also says “Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.” Ecclesiastes 11:9

As a follower of Jesus we must decide how we are going to best do what Jesus requires us to do with the days that we are given.

We are all called to set a good example to those around us. Sometimes we/I do and sometimes we/I don’t.

We are to be a light to those who are perishing, and encouragement to other believers.

The Bible also commands the young and old to pursue righteousness.

Often we look to the scriptures to understand the length of our life’s journey.

Several hundred years after the flood, Moses declared, “The length of our days is seventy years or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away”. Psalm 90:10

So how long do we live?

As I grow older and my beard turns greyer and my hair thins, I seem to be reflecting more on the statement by Moses.

I have also heard a saying that goes like “we’ve done our bit for king and country.”

When one says that it means that they have done all or more than required in service to a company, group or an obligation.

But as we go older, does that apply to us as Christians?

When can we stop sharing and living the Good News?

It is my belief that we are called by Jesus to share the good news of the hope that is within until we can no longer.

May we until as the hymn says be “Living for Jesus through earth’s little while, My dearest treasure, the light of His smile; Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem, Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.”

May we follow Jesus’ command “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,” in all the days of our life on this terrestrial ball called Earth.

Rev. Frank Chlastak began work as senior minister of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Poplar Bluff in 2015.