GROWING OLD

7 6 12 Growing Old Matt 24 35

Scripture:    Matt 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. (Spoken by Jesus.)

Note: Have you ever stopped to consider how many things you have that are eternal in nature?  Most of us haven’t. We are much more concerned with things that are temporary rather than what is eternal. All the toys, all the things we have accumulated in this life will either rot, rust or simply fade away.  There is very little about life that is permanent. Two of the most noticeable observations of this truth have to do with aging and physical strength; youth and its beauty fades and so will our physical strength.  

I love what Robertson McQuilkin wrote in Our Daily Bread about this very topic: "God planned the strength and beauty of youth to be physical. But the strength and beauty of age is spiritual. We gradually lose the strength and beauty that is temporary so we'll be sure to concentrate on the strength and beauty that is forever." 

The Bible puts it in a little different perspective, 2 Cor 4:16-18 (NIV) “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Did you notice what the passage says about how we are to view the problem of aging? The apostle Paul said, regardless of what’s going on in our physical bodies we do not lose heart. Why? Because God continues to work in us and through us to accomplish his will. His will is for us to be like him, spiritually and in bodily form. We are like him in spirit because we have been born again and we will be like him in our bodies because we are promised a glorified body like his. Paul was writing words of encouragement to them and to us. He tells us that we are not to be concerned with the outwardly wasting away of our bodies because we are being renewed inwardly day by day. He encourages us to fix our eyes on what is unseen rather than what is seen. What is unseen is the completed work of Christ in us, the completion of God’s promises to us who are in Christ. As Paul writes, “what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

So my friends, here’s the reality. Everything about us, everything we acquire, everything of this world including our flesh will not last and will be destroyed. But, and here is the good news, everything about us that is of the Spirit is eternal. What are some of these eternal things that are ours? The Word of God, the Love of God, the Promises of God, all of these things will last forever for they are of the Spirit. The love that we share with one another, the joy of our salvation, the peace of God, the living hope that is ours in Christ, the assurance of our faith, the presence of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, are all permanent and will never pass away. We may think we have little that will last and this may be true but as a believer we can, through faith and obedience, work toward having more; more of   things that are eternal in nature. Eat the Word, breathe the Word, sleep the Word, do all as though you are doing it unto Christ. If you do you will mature in Christ and bear Spiritual fruit and have treasures in heaven. Why worry about the temporary things of life? We have very little control over them and they will pass away? Instead, why not invest your life in those things that have eternal value and consequences; things that we are led to do by the Holy Spirit; things that are found in the Word of God. Two come to mind: Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said these are the two greatest commandments. Why not give it a try? If successful you can look forward to treasures in heaven and joy and peace while here on earth.

I read a humorous article recently that might bring a smile to our face because it speaks to our getting older.

“Man is like an automobile. As it gets older, the differential starts slipping, and the u-joints get worn, causing the drive shaft to go bad. The transmission won't go into high gear and sometimes has difficulty getting out of low. The cylinders get worn and lose compression, making it hard to climb the slightest incline. When it is climbing, the tappets clatter and ping to the point where one wonders if the old bus will make it to the top. The carburetor gets fouled with pollutants and other matter, making it hard to get started in the morning. It is hard to keep the radiator filled because of the leaking hose. The thermostat goes out, making it difficult to reach operating temperature. The headlights grow dim, and the horn gets weaker. The memory chip drops a few bytes, and the battery needs constant recharging. But if the body looks good with no bangs, dents or chipping paint, we can keep it washed and polished, giving the impression that it can compete with the newer models and make one more trip down the primrose lane before the head gasket blows. Gentlemen, start your engines.” [Pinging Like Crazy in Tulsa, in Ann Landers, Spokesman Review, Dec. 24, 1993]

I hope this gave you a good laugh or at least brought a smile to your face. Those are the muscles by the way that need to be exercised frequently as we grow older and are able to take life less seriously.

Word from the Lord:   “Beloved, it shows great wisdom when you redirect your vision from the things that are temporary to the things that are eternal. I invested my life in you and I want you to invest your life in me. That investment will pay you tremendous dividends, dividends beyond your wildest expectations.”  

Did the Lord speak to you today?  Why not write it down and claim it for His Glory.

Prayer:  What do you need to pray to the Lord today? Listen to your heart. He loves you!

If you are not interesting in receiving these devotionals please let me know and I will remove you from the list. I hope you enjoy them and that they encourage you to faithfulness. david