Age

Age

Now Is the Time
A pioneer preacher was called to conduct the funeral for a man who never entered the church building while he lived. As the pallbearers neared the meetinghouse door, the old preacher stood in the doorway and beckoned saying: "Gentlemen, I have never taken an undue advantage of any living person, and I am not going to begin imposing on the dead. If this man were living he would not enter this building. Put him down right there and let us respect him enough to finish his earthly pilgrimage as he lived it."
The service was conducted from the doorway, with the casket resting on the church-house lawn. Perhaps the preacher was a bit "hard," but he certainly had a point. Better think about dying and eternity while we live.

Attitude
Several years ago a man encountered the idea that we should live our lives in such a way that when we die even the undertaker will be sorry that we are gone!
The saying is that life begins at 40. It really begins when we want it to begin!
At age 71 an agent turned down Jack Benny thinking he was washed up. Jack found another agent and fulfilled twelve million dollars more in bookings before he died at the age of 81.
Moses was 80 when he received the Law.
Aaron was 83 when he began to perform miracles and plagues in Egypt.
Joshua was 85 when he led Israel into the promised land.
Will Durant sold a series of television programs at the ripe young age of 91.
Frank Lloyd Wright created the magnificent Guggenheim Museum at 89.
Colonel Sanders was in his 60s when he sold his first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise.
A University of Wisconsin study says that if we are physically well, and keep active as we get older, we can enjoy people, laugh at ourselves, and get as much out of life at 90 as we could when we were 40!

What, Not When
Some time ago the United Technologies Corporation published in the Wall Street Journal a full-page message entitled, "It's What You Do, Not When You Do It." The message contained a listing of many eaglelike people who soared at various ages in their lives.
Ted Williams, at age 42, slammed a home run in his last official time at bat.
Mickey Mantle, age 20, hit 23 home runs his first full year in the major leagues.
Golda Meir was 71 when she became Prime Minister of Israel.
William Pitt II was 24 when he became Prime Minister of Great Britain.
George Bernard Shaw was 94 when one of his plays was first produced.
Mozart was just seven when his first composition was published.
Now, how about this? Benjamin Franklin was a newspaper columnist at 16 and a framer of the United States Constitution when he was 81.
You are never too young or too old if you have talent. Let us recognize that age has little to do with ability-and, age has NOTHING to do with dreams and determination and vision.

Reaction
It is now believed that a man reaches his peak mentally around the age of 35 and that this peak is maintained even past 70 years of age.
It has also been proven that the old saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" is untrue. The learning power at 70 is about the same as it is at 17.
As one authority put it, we do not become old through the passing of years, but rather by our reactions to the circumstances of life.

Attitude and Opportunity
In the central place of every heart there is a recording chamber. So long as it receives a message of beauty, hope, cheer, and courage-so long are you young. When the wires are all down and your heart is covered with the snow of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then, and only then, are you grown old.

All Times Are His
Our times are in His hand
Who saith, "A whole I planned.
Youth shows but half; Trust God,
See all, nor be afraid!"
For age is opportunity, no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress,
And as the evening twilight fades away
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.

Because of the Remnant
"He that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Galatians 6:8).
One need not look far today to see that most of society does not want to be bothered with things that are spiritual; they have no time to look at, or reflect on anything spiritual; rather they seem to be primarily concerned with the economy and the temporal things of this life. So much that we used to hold dear-the historical ideals of conduct that were associated with the Judeo-Christian heritage-seem of little importance. Even our TV screens portray homosexuality and loose morals as simply another lifestyle and nothing to be worried about.
Paul refers to this at length in the first chapter of Romans, and we can see that these are the very things that seem to be creeping into the fabric of society all around us. The only thing that has probably stopped God's judgment on the human race thus far is the fact that He still has a remnant; a people that seek to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, and be a light in the midst of increasing darkness. May we ever be on our guard as we journey onward, in order that the truth of the gospel will continue to influence the people around us, and ultimately people around the world.

Old but Still Useful
"He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither" (Psalms 1:3).
An article out of Choice Gleanings reads as follows:
"As one approaches the three-score-and-ten age, thoughts as to future usefulness to the Lord often occur. Walking through a nearby forest, I spotted a strange sight. An old, gnarled tree had been broken, but green shoots were still proceeding from it. It was also supporting a fallen tree. We can still be useful at three-score-and-ten and beyond."

Old Age
Old age is a privilege.
You cannot buy it.
You cannot sell it.
You cannot earn it.
You cannot inherit it.
You cannot merit it.
So if you are fortunate enough to have it, for heaven's sake enjoy it; and do not complain about it.
Remember, if you were not old-you would be dead.

Born Old
Elderly Christians tend to be thoughtful, kind, patient and loving. Through years of imitating Christ they have grown more and more into his image. Physical health may be failing, or the eyesight growing dim, the hearing failing, but there is no reason to lose heart. Why? "The inner nature is being renewed every day." And these saints are more lovely than they have ever been.
For those who resent the passing years, an interesting possibility has been suggested by Charles L. Allen. He writes, "Just suppose the process were reversed. You would start living at an old age and every day be a little younger. Now that would be terrible. Every day you would know a little less than you knew the day before. You would start off with your grandchildren but in a few years they would all be gone. Your family, instead of growing, would constantly be diminishing. You would eventually get to the age where you start to college. You would start off a senior and end up in the first grade. Now, little first graders are cute with their short pants or little pink dresses, but I would hate to think I would have to be one again.
"Tottering old age has its drawbacks, but being a tiny baby is a lot worse. If you were getting younger, you would have to look forward to losing everything and end up by being a helpless baby with a bottle. Finally, you would just fade away into nothing. Babies do not have a previous existence, so complete oblivion would be the end."
When it is put like that, it is easy to see the advantage of growing older rather than shrinking younger. In the spiritual realm, who would want his faith to grow weaker day by day? Who would want to see his Christ-like qualities diminish with the passing of time? Who would want to give up the personal experiences where God has proven His faithfulness time and again in one's own life? Not me!
Experience is a great teacher. We are confident that:
They who wait for the Lord
shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings
like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Remembering
Just a line to say I'm living,
that I'm not among the dead,
Though I'm getting more forgetful
and mixed up in the head.
I got used to my arthritis,
to my dentures I'm resigned.
I can manage my bifocals,
but God, I miss my mind.
For sometimes I can't remember
when I stand at the foot of the stair,
If I must go up for something
or have I just come down from there.
And before the fridge so often
my poor mind is filled with doubt.
Have I just put the food away or
have I come to take some out?
And there are times when it is dark
with my night cap on my head,
I don't know if I'm retiring, or
just getting out of bed.
So, if it's my turn to write you
there's no need getting sore,
I may think that I have written
and don't want to be a bore.
So, remember that I love you
and wish that you were near,
But now it's nearly mail time
so I must say goodbye, dear.
There I stand beside the mailbox
with a face so very red,
Instead of mailing you my letter,
I have opened it instead.