Make every moment, every day, and every remaining year count for Christ. Yes, embrace Him, His overall purpose and His specific will for you. What He's doing in your life is good cuz He is. Be sure to say thank you for all the blessings throughout the years.
You and I deal with reality here, and we can do that with a laser focus primarily on Christ the whole way through. We can serve Him and others ..even by prayer.
You know, living daily in His winsome presence, forgiven is the greatest blessing. Living all out for Jesus, who is the Truth if from His free grace as well.
Accept Him and your purpose here, rather than trying to fight the ongoing process of this life in a fallen setting.
I choose to view life's purpose in Christ as being well, clearly proclaiming and living by divine Scriptural truth well. He can help with that, with continued ministry and service as a fulfilling goal, even through these later years. Do you view it this way too?
I pray for my parents daily; they have more to contend with as they pray their way through.
"The most important thing we can do is tell the truth boldly." ~ Charlie Kirk
Of course, there's a timing and tone for that. My gaze out of these same two windows looks as lovely as it always has. Hasn’t changed.
Gray hairs.. I don't mind em at all cuz I'm a guy. I’ve always felt like the same age inside. My voice hasn't ever changed.. I think. I’m still the same man I was at eighteen (and that was a really good year. Got a second chance at life when I didn't deserve it), I'm still my dad and mother’s son with three brothers that I like. Got an excellent wife.. I like far more.
I kept waiting to feel old one day like they say happens, but it never really happened. Sure. I get sore when I walk over 12 miles or so around DC and elsewhere but doesn't everybody?
Of course, the body weakens, the fall in the garden really happened, the energy will eventually fade, and some people's memory slips at times — but deep inside here, nothing has changed. This person, me, hasn't always been in existence, but I was born.. twice.. and inside I never seem to grow old. Grateful to God! I wish we'd all been or be ready.
"Born once, die twice. Born twice, die once" ~ Martin Luther
You know there are two types of death for people (physical and spiritual).
- Born once, die twice: Talkin' about a person who experiences only a physical birth. They will die physically, and then face a "second death," which is spiritual death and eternal separation from God in He-double-hockey-sticks. You know of the place.
- Born twice, die once: Talkin' about a person who has a physical birth and also a spiritual (second) "birth" via true repentance and saving faith in Jesus Christ. This person will die physically, but they will not have to face the second death, as they have received eternal life.
Be ready for what is ahead.. as we walk with the Lord. Our bodies do age (that's reality, but you don't have to have that old mentality). Our inner human spirits remain young, believer. Renewed like the eagle soaring upwards because we wait and not just the wait to wait -- His mercies are new every morning. The soul doesn’t wrinkle or fade.
Let's remember when we speak with someone older than us, remember this — inside, they’re still basically that same person, full of dreams and laughter. People can be won at any age.
No matter how many years pass by, all people need the same things: God's agape love,.mercy, understanding, more grace (so they'll choose never to get grumpy, gripy and bitter).. having a reason (with real purpose) to keep going forward.
“Who can live and not see death, or save themselves from the power of the grave?” — Psalm 89:48
I remember a magazine called LIFE. In it, they once asked, “Can we stop aging?”
You know how Science may stretch our years a pinch, but only God can stretch their meaning gobs. The real question is not Can we live longer? ..but Are we living (spiritually) well?
Our lives tell stories—each of us a walking parable. What will your life tell?
Some stories are marked by broken beginnings and divine redemptions. Mine is simple: God took a mess in Dana Point, a party animal of sorts that felt sick of my sin, and made it a message. That’s what grace in Christ does for people like me. “He makes all things new” (Revelation 21:5). He gave me a second chance at life.
Every soul should pause and ask, What story am I really telling? What legacy am I really leaving?
Evangelist Billy Graham once said, “The greatest legacy one can pass on is not money or material things, but a legacy of character and faith.” Life’s brevity demands honest reflection—whether young or gray-haired, we’re basically writing tomorrow’s testimony today.
It's been said: Youth charts the course; age hopefully reveals the path. The morning of your life determines the evening of it. It can, so form good habits and disciplines in a relationship with Christ right now—daily Bible study, candid prayer, regular church and small group fellowship, witnessing of how wonderful God is—and the Trinity will carry you through the later storms. Barna Research found that 64% of Christians who remain strong in faith as adults established spiritual disciplines before age 18. Early roots make lasting fruit.
As medical science and new meds with exercise and a decent diet add years to our lives, Christ alone adds life to our years. He said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Life to the full and then unending. Aging doesn’t stop that abundance—it only deepens it.
I’ve looked through the same two windows for decades now (eyes are gifts), and though the face in the reflection grows older, the soul behind it sure hasn’t aged a day.
My hair grays, my steps still with a really fast tempo.. not slower, and the man inside—the one redeemed at eighteen when I didn’t even deserve it—still feels pretty young. My voice may tremble, but my heart still sings, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, who renews your youth like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:5).
Sure, muscles do ache for a time, and they say that memory fades. I still carry heavy things..that's why the soreness.
That’s merely the curse stemming from Eden’s fall in the garden. But inside me, something eternal lives on. My regenerated human spirit--it used to be deader than dead!
The body will decay one day, yet “the inner man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). The soul never wrinkles on the beach sand under the IRs and UV rays. Heaven’s breath keeps it fresh.
Hey, I encourage you today. It might seem like you've become more invisible, but God sees you. You matter to Him.
When you meet an elderly saint (or perhaps one not yet a saint), remember this—inside that frail frame still beats the laughter of youth with dreams of a heart that never stopped hoping.. or say most of their hopes are gone..or all hope seems far away with the dreams as well.. cuz they've been crushed by mean people or life's tough circumstances.
Hope with the blessings can all be quickened again.. just like Christ physically coming out of that dank tomb. It happened, and it can happen again for you. Pray through!
When you meet some one fairly old.. and then you find out they are some years younger than you.. listen well, hear their heart, and minister to them. Tell them about who cares--Jesus. No one outgrows the need for love, mercy, and future purpose. They may walk slower, but their spirit still longs for closeness with God.. and desires to leap and run.
Remember Amazing Grace? John Newton wrote that, and near the end of his life, said:
“My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.”
He and His promises never grow old. He never changes. He and His Words are never obsolete.
Not everyone has the privilege of growing old or gaining gray hair on top. The Lord knows the number of those you've dyed redish.
So, don’t fear those gray-headed years. We see chaos and confusion around us today, but don't have to become a part of all that.
Let the gray become your crown of wisdom -- ask for God's type of wisdom.
"The silver-haired head is a crown of splendor and glory; It is found in the way of righteousness." Proverbs 16:31 amp
Walk into the future holding the hand that has held you thus far, believer. He's been there all along -- Jesus didn't ditch and forsake you. His mercies really are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23. Appropriate His grace and gifts.. by faith). His love doesn’t fade with time—it just ripens.
As the old lyrics go,
“Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.”
Lord, make my life a prayer to You, make my life acceptable worship unto You. Make my life an altar call..again and again and again. Give me a harvest for You. Please do.. use us while we have breath.
Let your life be like that too—young or old—tell your own story of faith for His glory. Let your life point people to Jesus Christ when you can, the One who conquers weakness, aches, death and gives eternal life. He gives us youth in the heart as well. He is not just the Author of your story (let Him be); He is the One who guarantees its glorious ending.. like with his Book. Victorious!
