OLD FRIENDS

 

Old friends can mean two things: either they’ve been friends for a long time, or they’re simply old. Sometimes it’s both. I’m blessed with many old friends. Some I’ve worked with, some from church, from school, from golf, from neighborhoods, and from other places. But they’ve been a wonderful part of my life.

My hope is that I’m as much a blessing to them as they are to me. I try to be. I keep in touch with phone calls, texts, and emails. Thankfully with old friends you don’t have to text before calling. And they often contact me as well. It’s especially nice now, since I can’t travel as far due to health limitations.

I do miss having lunch with my old friends as often as I used to. In fact, in a previous post I listed the many restaurants at which I’ve dined with my lunch buddies. There have been many, many good meals. And I can’t golf as much as I’d like. Over the years I’ve golfed at well over 200 courses around the country. (And my game improved about zero.) But the fun is in the fellowship and being able to see their birdies and eagles once in a while.

There’s a song by the Gaither’s entitled “Old Friends.” A few of the phrases are: “What a find, what a priceless treasure.” “Like a rare piece of gold; my friends make it great to grow old.” “I’m a rich millionaire in old friends.” That describes friendship very, very well.

Besides friends here on earth, God can also be our friend. Recall the great old hymn: “What a friend we have in Jesus.” And the Bible speaks of God’s friendship in the following verses.

James 2:23 (NKJV) "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.

Exodus 33:11 (NKJV) So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. 

John 15:15 (NKJV) Jesus said to the apostles: No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends.

The most magnificent thing about friendship is that it will continue into Heaven. We can spend eternity with our friends.