We are generally more receptive to those things that pertain to youth; but when you search the scriptures, you find great emphasis on old age. Samuel had these words to say: “And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and gray headed; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day” (1 Sam. 12:2).
Job, as well, had this to say, “With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding” (Job 12:2).
Isaiah recorded, “And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you” (Isa. 46:4). David recorded, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away…So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Ps. 90:10,12).
Remember when David was young, he slew Goliath (1 Sam.17); but there came a time when David went to battle against the Philistines and the scriptures tell us, “and Da-vid waxed faint” (2 Sam. 21:15). The Bible says, “And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David” (2 Sam. 21:16). That was the end of David’s giant killing battles for Samuel records, “But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel” (2 Sam. 21:17). Old age comes upon us! So what do we do? Go hide? Quit preach-ing? Stop serving as an elder? Live like a hermit? Here are some suggestions:
- DON’T LIVE IN THE PAST! Paul wrote, “…Forgetting those things which are behind…” (Phil. 3:13).Create new memories. Set new goals. There is a great work going on in India of which the Gootam family is involved (Bro. Ronald Gootam and his father have visited the Lithia Springs congregation). The work in which they are involved started back in the sixties when Bro. J.C. Bailey, a Canadian, retired from secular work and went to India to help establish the church there. Bro. Bailey was 65 at the time.
- REMEMBER THE INSTRUCTION IN THE BIBLE! “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience” (Titus 2:1-2).
- WATCH THE TENDENCY TO GIVE AN ORGAN RECITAL. Yes, Solomon writes about growing older in Ecclesiastes twelve but that doesn’t mean I need to give An organ recital to everyone I meet. Remember this passage, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16. Let that inward man come out.
