Long Life And Old Age

Long Life And Old Age

By DR. TOM CORKISH, Pastor

ANCHOR BAPTIST CHURCH

1880 EAST 5600 SOUTH

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84121

You might wake up some morning and upon looking in the mirror, wonder who that old character is that is looking back at you. You don't feel old and hopefully you don't act old, which is something that can happen to anyone at any age, especially during the teen years; but there is the truth staring you in the face. You have gotten old.

Dying the hair and sprucing up a bit has not changed the calendar at all, and you are marching on with time and getting older with each passing minute.

Hopeful we would have the understanding to recognize our frailty and shortness of life. Isn't it true that many seem that they never face that day which is fast approaching? The Psalmist thought we should face such a truth with wisdom and acceptance.

"LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. (Psalms 39:4-5)

But fear not! God is the same even in our old age. Isaiah tells us that it is God that creates us, cradles us, carries us, and conserves us. (Isaiah 46:4)

The prospect of His vast wisdom and sovereignty is enough to make us ponder Him and magnify Him with overwhelming awe. We were not "awake" when we were created. It was mysteriously quiet and lonely, there in the mother's womb.

The very hours of conception and birth were right on schedule: His . . . not ours. To think that somehow God had a plan for each of us in the days that we would sojourn on this earth, is far beyond what we can fathom. He knew us in the creation process. He even knew us before the foundation of the earth and then when it was time for us to arrive in our journey of life, He brought us forth by miracle, not by the happening of some evolution process.

Praise the Lord! He has known us from the beginning and has had something special for our lives. What is it? Shouldn't we look back as well as forward to see where He has led and where He is leading?

It is good to measure my days. It is good to trust Him at every turn and know that He has never left forsaken those who are the righteous: Those who have received Jesus Christ as Saviour. Amen! It is such a blessing to know we do not go alone and without reason.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF OLDER SAINTS

Those who are younger may look at the older saints as being kind of dull and useless. It might be a part of our young society that brings about this philosophy. Actually, it is often the older generation that is filled with wisdom that can burst forth at any turn to stun the most elite. The book of Job seems to have an excellent value on the contribution of older saints in this regard.

"With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding. (Job 12:12-13)

The same book also honors the ancient for his fine example he lives before others. (Job 11:19) May it be true of every elderly saint who walks the earth during his lifetime. May each of them be teachers of sound doctrine, Titus 2:1-5. May they be . . .

Sober, grave temperate sound in faith in charity in patience teaching, not false accusers, not given to wine . . ."

May the younger generation be able to look to that kind of saint that is overflowing with those qualities that will give the message of strength and truth with all endurance, kindness and sobriety. May they see in the older saint, lines in the face that reveal character that should be able to stand up to any eventuality.

May these younger folks see that in spite of wars, deaths, depressions, setbacks, persecution and turmoil; the saint of God never wavers and come to the very end, trusting the Lord who has never changed and is always on the throne of His sovereignty and matchless grace.

CHARACTERISTICS OF OLDER SAINTS

The older saint is probably not going to be known for his physical powers. In any regard, Solomon told his son tlook at the older man in this fashion:

"The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head." (Proverbs 20:29)

Maybe those who change the hair color are doing a disservice to his testimony. Solomon said that the old man is known for his gray hair. It shows he has been around for awhile and should be bursting with wisdom and experience of life.

The book of Job says that the older saint is secure, fearless and able to forget his misery. I have seen some who did not do so well in forgetting his misery, but it is something for which we should strive.

The older man is also known for his duration. He has lasted and still continues. Though he has been cast down in some regard, his countenance is renewed. He is hopeful, fearless and satisfied. (Job 11:15-19; Psalms 91:16)

Over and over the older saint has seen the intervention of God. God has finally brought him through so much, proving Himself worthy over and over, that it is satisfying to just rest in the arms of the Lord and understand how He has saved in situation after situation.

"With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation." (Psalms 91:16)

Finally: What is life all about for the older man? What was it about for the younger? Nothing has really changed. The Lord certainly has not, and if we can learn to trust Him in our youth, the older we get, the Lord will just be more precious and trustworthy in our eyes.

Let me give you young people a challenge:

"The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened." (Proverbs 10:27)

"That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged." (Deuteronomy 6:2)

"For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased." (Proverbs 9:11)