As we get older, we experience many, many different emotions and even more various kinds of thoughts. Did we live to our fullest? Do we have any regrets? Do we realize we didn’t give it our all? Or do we look back over our years and just say “thank you” to God?
The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:7 that life is a “gracious gift”. Today is kind gift from the Lord and eternal life an even greater gift.
Why are we sometimes embarrassed to disclose our age? God said in Psalms 91:15-16, “He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation” (emphasis added). The Bible says that Abraham died at a “good old age” (Gen 25:8; emphasis added). Old age was good for Abraham; why can’t it be good for us?
Life is full of trouble (Psalms 90:10), but the great majority of people want to live longer lives – not shorter ones. In life’s troubles, we find the unnatural presence of death and sickness.
Death and sickness were not a part of creation; instead, they are a result of sin. Death is judicial, not natural. It is a sentence. Romans 5:12 says that “just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned – –
Aging and death are unnatural and should feel “wrong”. We can accept God’s death sentence because, for Christians, it’s only a rest-stop.
Immediately after the first sin, the tree of eternal life was barred (Gen 3:22-24). God in mercy did not allow us to live forever in a state of sin. We can look forward to eternal life in a sinless state when we die.
The Bible says in Revelation 21:4 – “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” In paradise, God gives access once again to the tree of life. (Rev 2:7, 22:2, 14).
Everything breaks down, not just people. Romans 8:20-21 states: “For creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God” (emphasis added).
Aging – the time to give thanks! But, still, many problems come with aging. Barzillai, who supported King David when he fled Absalom, said: “How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the King? I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of men and women singers?”
With aging comes the loss of interest and motivation (Ecc 12:1), loss of sight (Ecc 12:2) loss of teeth (Ecc 12:3), loss of hearing (Ecc 12:4), loss of mobility (Ecc 12:3), loss of sleep (Ecc 12:4), loss of muscle strength and mass (Ecc 12:3), loss of sexual desire (Ecc 12:5) loss of general health, loss of self-image, loss of usefulness to others (as we’re not called upon to serve as we once were), loss of general importance in business, society, and professionally, more fear (Ecc 12:4), and the likelihood of being put in a nursing home, hospital, or assisted living facility.
So how do we deal with aging? What will help us in our old age? The Bible says in Psalms 71:9 “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.” God has promised that He will never leave us, nor forsake us (Heb 13:5).
Don’t worry; we are not abandoned by God because we maybe can’t see as well as we used to or because we may not be as useful to others as we once were. As Christians, we can look forward to enjoying a brand new body because “Jesus, who by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be life His glorious body” (Phi 3:21).
Caleb, for one, seemed to defy aging. “I am still as strong today [at 85] as I was in the day Moses sent me [45 years earlier]; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in. Now then, give me this hill country about which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities…” (Josh. 14: 11-12). “And Caleb drove out from the three sons of Anak [giants, Num 13:33] (Josh. 14:14).
Are there any advantages of aging? Absolutely!
Aging – the time to give thanks! Aging, in and of itself, is an advantage. Long life is not mentioned as among the blessings that the wicked usually enjoy (Psalms 73 and Jeremiah 12:1-2). For us, as Christians, we are closer to Heaven. In certain cultures, more respect is given to the elderly and aging. There is freedom from certain responsibilities. Sometimes, here in the United States, discounts are given to seniors. Aches and pains remind us that life is short and to maximize it. Aging gives us opportunities to glorify God via struggle, which is something that we cannot do in Heaven. Retirement is for the aging (Numbers 8:25-26). As we age, hopefully an advantage that we have is that we are wiser. Age gives us a unique perspective to understand the times. Older Christians should look more like Christ (2 Cor 3:18). We, as elders, can take satisfaction in our children and grandchildren (and maybe even great-grandchildren). It’s a blessing when our counsel is sought and when we’re asked to pray for them.
As we age, older married couples can enjoy time with one another more because the children are grown and gone, leaving room for travel and spending quality time with one another. Years of growing together can form an amazing bond of unity.
Old age can be redeemed by telling future generations about God’s faithfulness (Psalms 71:18, Psalms 78: 2-7).
People have looked for centuries to stop the aging process and death – whether it be by the fountain of youth or alchemy. Hezekiah begged God not to take his life, and God gave him and extra 15 years.
Our body is a gift of God to us. Without a body we do not have a ministry. With a limited body, we generally have a limited ministry. We may not reverse aging, but we can make agin less debilitating by taking care of our minds, hearts, and bodies.
According to Erik Erikson who proposed the eight developmental stages in life: “The eighth and last stage is ‘integrity over despair.’ At this stage, we can look back upon life to see if we have successfully met the challenges of the earlier stages (integration) or if we have not been successful (despair).”
Ephesians 2:10 says: “For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.” As we look back on our life, how do we answer the question of whether or not we did what God created us to do?
How do we evaluate our life? By whether or not we had a happy marriage? If our children turned into wise and godly adults? If we had professional or vocational success?
By the fruit we’ve seen in ministry?
Stop thinking about any and all of that right now!
The Bible says that the wicked are the ones who think too highly of themselves – not the godly! (Psalms 36: 1-2). But Christians do have a tendency to do it. (Rom 12:3).
We cannot say with any honesty that we have done our very best at any stage of life. (1 Cor 10:31). Eternal life, after all, is a gift – not a result of our works. Christians are saved by faith in Christ alone, but faith that is alone, without good works, is not saving faith.
Aging – the time to give thanks! As we get older, and as true Christians, we can rejoice that our name is written in Heaven (Luke 10:20). Every Christian will receive far more than is deserved, since no one deserves to go to Heaven anyway. This is consolation enough for us, for now. If we have suffered for Jesus, our reward will be great (Matt 5:11-12)!
We can give thanks and rejoice in our old age because, instead of despair in old age for our failures, we can be thankful that the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). Old age gives us the opportunity to try to reconcile broken relationships.
Ultimately, we don’t have to satisfy ourselves or anyone else in an evaluation – our lives must simply please God. The apostle Paul wrote: “I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore, judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God” (1 Cro 4: 3-5).
Our judgement is biased; God’s is not. Christians have a glorious hope for the next life.
Psalms 16:11 says: “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
So, don’t despise your wrinkles; rejoice and give thanks for them! Don’t despise old age in you or anyone else (Proverbs 23:22). The Bible says youth and vigor are meaningless anyway (Ecc 10). God tell us to enjoy being young and enjoy following the ways of the heart, but to be forewarned that those things are the very things that God will judge us for (Ecc 11:9)
Paul tells us to flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Tim 2:22). Try to emulate Christ in His purity, associations, love, and good deeds. That is the goal of life, for the young…and for the old.
Rejoice!
