COMING IN SECOND

I recently finish reading the bible through for the year and started over again.  (I figured I would get a head start for next year.)  In Genesis 5 we have "the family tree" of Adam.  Adam lived 930 years and he died.  Seth, a son that according to scripture looked much like Adam, lived 912 years and he died.  A grandson of Adam, Enosh, lived to be 905 years and he died.  Methuselah is recorded to have lived 969 years and he died.  Almost everyone have heard the name "Methuselah" as being the oldest living man recorded in scripture.

But what about Jared, Who?  That's right, Jared.  Jared was the great-great-great-great grandson of Adam (or something like that).  You know, his son was Enoch, the one who "...walked with God; and he was not, for God took him (Genesis 5:24)."  

Jared lived to be 962 years of age and died.  Only seven years younger than his grandson, Methuselah. Jared came in second in this chapter of the oldest living, but went unnoticed throughout the generations of time.  Almost everybody in the Bible Belt of America have heard of Methuselah, but mention Jared in the bible and their response may be, WHO?

Sometimes we too come in second.  Sometimes we too are the one that our name are forgotten.  Sometime we too are the one that "almost" achieved the same thing the one that got the spot light achieved.  But with God there is no "second place".  God loves you as much as He loves anyone else.  The song writer said it well when he penned,

"The love of God is greater far, Than tongue or pen can ever tell;

It goes beyond the highest star, And reaches to the lowest hell;

The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;

His erring child He reconciled, And pardoned from his sin.

O love of God, how rich and pure!  How measureless and strong!

It shall forever more endure, The saints' and angels' song."

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."  John 3:16