"The Older I Get ..."
1. From One To Ninety
Two weeks ago there was a birthday party for a man at our church who is 90 years old. Yesterday, we celebrated the first birthday of our grandson, Grayson. As we pass our first birthday, we grow and mature and only a few of us will reach 90. I have gone beyond the halfway mark of life, and there are some things that I have found to be important as I keep pressing onward. I want to take a little time to share things about "The Older I Get..."
2. "The Older I Get, The More Precious Time Becomes"
During that same two weeks of birthdays, we had two funerals at church. I have been thinking about that for several days. Our birthdays pass, year after year, until our time on earth is done. Since I am on the upward end I know that my time is more precious. I realize that I have less time to spend with my family, less time to accomplish my goals, less time to make a difference in the lives of others. And most of all, I have less time to be a witness and serve the Lord. This makes me want to do all that I can for the Lord and for others. I want to show my loved ones just how much I love them. I want to make memories with them that will stay with them even after I am gone. I want to encourage you not to just count your days, but make each day count. Do what you can today, because we are not promised tomorrow. "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." (Proverbs 27:1)
3. "The Older I Get, The More I Want To Stay On The Old Path"
Anyone who calls me "old-fashioned" thinking it is an insult, doesn't really know me. I will be the first to admit that I am old-fashioned, and I like living that way. I like the old hymns and songs, I like the old King James Bible, and I like the old ways of worship. I enjoy watching old movies that I don't have to worry about the language or subject matter. Our verse today is found in Jeremiah 6:16, "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein." Jeremiah the prophet was trying to warn Israel of coming judgment, but they refused to listen. You may like a more modern approach to life, and as long as you follow God's leading and stay on the good path, He can give you joy and peace in that way. But, the older I get, the more I want to stay on the old paths.
4. "The Older I Get, The More I Remember God's Tender Mercies"
When I was young I was taught about God's goodness. I can still remember the first prayer I learned. "God is great, God is good, Let us thank Him, For our Food." I grew up knowing about the goodness of God. Then, as I grew older, I learned firsthand of God's tender mercies and lovingkindness. I have seen God supply our needs when our money was tight. I have felt God's presence when I went through troubles and trials. God has comforted me during sickness, and given me peace in the storms. The older I get, the more I have to remember of God's goodness to me. "Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old." (Psalm 25:6)
5. "The Older I Get, The More I Want To Show Jesus To My Grandchildren"
It was a joy to have our oldest son and his family come visit with us for a few days. It is great when our children and grandchildren gather together. It is fun to watch the grands play with toys their parents played with when they were small. And when they visit with us at church it is a special blessing. I am thankful that they are being raised in church. As I look around and see the wickedness in the world today, I know how important it is for them to have Jesus in their lives. I want them to see Jesus in my life. I want to share Bible truths with them, not just in word, but in the way I live. I don't have wealth to leave them, but if I can leave them with the assurance that Jesus loves them and wants them to have eternal life, that will be more precious than silver and gold. I have found a verse to encourage us "old folks" to keep on keeping on for the Lord. "O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come." (Psalm 71:17-18)
6. "The Older I Get, The More I Turn To The Lord For Strength In My Weakness"
I recently mentioned the first prayer I learned, and today I am looking at the first song I learned. "Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, They are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so." "Jesus Loves Me" was written in 1859 by Anna Bartlett Warner, and it is still sung today. I suppose that most of us feel like we are getting stronger and stronger as we grow from childhood to becoming an adult. But as we go through our forties and fifties, we begin to feel our strength diminish a little, and then into the sixties and seventies, the years seem to fly by, and so does our strength. My Dad taught me how to push mow the yard when I was young, and I always liked mowing the yard. I used to tell Michael that if he would watch our five children, I would mow the yard and even through the roar of the mower, it was a "quiet time" for me. Now, I mow around the garden, because I know which seeds "fell by the wayside" and I like to give them a chance to grow, but after three rounds I am done. Having asthma has taken much of my strength and I feel so limited in my weakness. But I am learning to trust in the Lord for strength in my weakness. The Apostle Paul helps us press onward in II Corinthians 12:9. "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." We also have these familiar verses in Isaiah 40:28-31.
"28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
7. "The Older I Get, The More My Priorities Change"
When Meredith was here last weekend she asked, "MeMaw, what do you do all day?" I have been thinking about her question and I realize how my days are different than they were in the past. I used to spend my days taking care of five children and our household. After the kids grew older, I got an office job and spent my days working first there, and afterwards doing what I could around the house. After I lost my job, I tried to make up for the housework I had not had time to do and I cleaned, even places that couldn't be seen, like closets, and cabinets, and drawers. Meredith, who is almost a teenager, has three younger brothers and she is a big help to her Mom. She probably thinks I have it pretty easy during the day... and on most days I do. I try to do the basics, like cooking, dishes, making the bed, and laundry. And I enjoy it when I can spend time in the garden. But I don't spend much extra time cleaning. As I get older, it just doesn't seem as important. Not as important as keeping the grandchildren. And if Mom calls and wants to go shopping, we go shopping. My devotional time is important. And doing things with Michael and our family is a priority. God gives us a good priority verse in Matthew 6:33. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." There may not be anything wrong with the little things that fill our days, but we need to let God have the preeminence in our lives. Let's remember to put Him first, and make time for the ones we love, and get our priorities in order.
8. "The Older I Get, As According To Ecclesiastes 12"
King Solomon prayed for wisdom and God granted it to him and gave him wisdom and also great wealth. When he was old he looked back on his life and said, "Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 12:8) In the second chapter he tells of all the things he had, wisdom, pleasure, wine, houses, silver and gold, anything he wanted he was able to get and even still, he said, "all is vanity." He began so well, but he let his wives turn his heart away from God, so his old age was filled with regrets. He ends the book with a description of growing old and implores his son to remember God in his youth. (verse 1) Before his sight becomes dim. (verse 2) Before his knees tremble and his body bends in age, and his teeth become few, and his sight darkened. (verse 3) Before his hearing is low (verse 4) and he can no longer climb to new heights, and he will be afraid, old and gray, "and desire shall fail". (verse 5) Then in verse 6 he tells of things that have become useless until finally man dies, and goes back to dust and his spirit goes back to God. This is a sad analogy of life for a man who had such great potential. These things can happen to us as we grow older, but we don't have to look back at our lives with such regrets. Let's live for the Lord today and serve Him all along the way. Let's finish right.
"1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:1-7)
