SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1244

“Growing Old”

In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. – Ecclesiastes 12:3-7

A quote attributed to Mark Twain is, “Do not complain about growing old, it is a privilege denied to many”.

God’s Word speaks of aging as a crown of glory, a time of bearing fruit and inner renewal.

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. – Proverbs 16:31

The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair. – Proverbs 20:29

The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. – Psalm 92:12-15

So, we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. – 2 Corinthians 4:16

Indeed, as Solomon so colorfully wrote in Ecclesiastes, our outer self is wasting away. We began to grow old from the time of our conception in our mother’s womb. It is a process that cannot be stopped. We can, however, age gracefully and with the peace and joy of the Lord by glorifying God while in this aging body.

Grow old in faith as a child of God, saved by grace through Jesus Christ.

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation. – 1 Peter 2:2

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. – 2 Thessalonians 1:3

Grow old by caring for your body as a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body. – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Grow old in a continual, close relationship with Jesus.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. – 2 Peter 3:18

Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. – Isaiah 46:4

Grow old continuing in ministry, bearing fruit, and serving the Lord.

O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. – Psalm 71:17-18

… Abide in me, and I in you. … Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. … By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples… – John 15:1-11

There is much we can do to maintain our physical health as we age. We cannot, however, stop it or reverse it, despite the plethora of products and medical procedures that attempt to recapture our youth.

Many of us can relate to the truth of the words from Ecclesiastes 12. We can choose to fight it and complain about it and try to reverse it. But that is meaningless chasing after the wind as Solomon would say.

May you embrace the gift of aging that the Lord has given you.

May you abide in Him as He abides in you, growing in faith, grace, and in the Word.

May your life, well into your old age be a ministry to others and testimony of the Love of God.

May your life continually bear fruit for the Kingdom of God as you choose to serve Him all the years of your life until He calls you home to be with Him for eternity.

…Choose this day whom you will serve … But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ – Matthew 25:23