“Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath.” Psalm 39:4-5 NIV
Every once in a while, I am forced to confront my own mortality. I bump into a friend and see more grey hair than I had remembered or they talk about their grandchildren, which I didn’t know they had. Someone in the doctor’s office will say something like, “It was fun growing up but it sure isn’t fun getting old.” Such remarks tend to gnaw at one’s mind. Now, I’m not complaining. In terms of age, there are only two choices in this world: die young or get old. I choose the second option, if it be the Lord’s will, and all the aches that naturally go with it.
It’s just that my son asks me to help him build a pasture fence or round up the cattle and I spend more time on the tailgate of his truck catching my breath than actually helping. Then there are those Sunday morning sermons. I enjoy preaching. It is like milk and honey to my spirit. But after I have poured out my soul before the people, I spend all afternoon in the bed trying to get rested enough to do it all over again that night.
Yep, not gonna live for ever here! But I know where I’m going! Over on the other side where life is real. Where there are no aches and pain. Where sickness and doctors are not allowed. No pharmacies there! Where tired bodies do not exist. No health spas there! Where we never grow old! Because the tree of life is there and he who is Life is there.
I know that I’m getting older and the things of this life tug at my spirit tempting me to hang onto it as long as possible. But then I remember that God didn’t create these bodies to live forever here. Jesus said, “In my Father’s house there is plenty of space. I am going to prepare a place for you and I will return to bring you there” [John 14:2-3 my paraphrase]. Paul said, “We know that he who raised Jesus from the dead will raise us up by him and present us together in him. So we do not give up. Even if we are wasting away in body, we are still being renewed in spirit day by day” [2 Cor. 4:14 & 16 my paraphrase].
After some consideration, I agree that it was fun growing up. But it wasn’t as much fun as growing old. Then I was wildly exploring and dreaming, Now I’m enjoying and savoring.
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for the gift of age. Grant that I may live long and be fruitful in your kingdom. Enable us to endure and empower us with sufficient faith to see the end of our journey. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his gifts of experience, wisdom, and age then live to his glory,