Aging gracefully - begin here!

I'm going to lay out this post just like a Southern Baptist preacher: I'll note three things we will consider....... growing older as a Christian should include thinking about God's care, trusting in a lively hope of heaven, and tackling life with enthusiasm. 

Did you see that? Did you see what I did there? (Grin)

Hopefully, this bird's eye view will whet our appetites for our study and encourage us to remain steadfast in our Christian faith, too.

Let's dig right in!

These are all the years of Abraham’s life that he lived, 175 years.  Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people. (Genesis 25:7-8, NASB)

Wow. It always amazes me to read in the Old Testament about the incredible lives of those heroes of our faith, and about their deaths, as well. One hundred and seventy-five years! If we look back at chapter 21 of Genesis, we see that he became a dad again at the age of 100 when Isaac was born! He had some bobbles, to be sure, but he served God for all those many years. Others in the Old Testament lived amazingly long lives, not just Abraham. God cared for them and guided them, and protected them. He totally understands how we feel as we are growing older.

You know, that moment that you realize, "Gee, whiz, I'm getting old!" It may be when the grandkids roll their eyes at something they find unbelievable about the recent past. It may be when we are looking at some old family pictures, or when someone close to us passes away. It may be when you are looking at the larger number of grays in your hair. It may just be when you are standing, having just hoisted yourself out of the chair with some difficulty, and you are trying to remember what you were going to go and do?

Oy.

In our focus passage for this study, God says this:

You who have been carried by Me from birth
And have been carried from the womb;
4 Even to your old age I will be the same,
And even to your graying years I will carry you!
I have done it, and I will bear you;
And I will carry you and I will save you. (Isaiah 46:3b-4, NASB)

Who is He talking to, here?

All of us. Each one of us.

He has known us and provided for us since we were formed in the womb. He's cared for us from then until our birth and then all of our life. He's continued to care for us and carry us. He's been with us. He was right there when we had that "I'm getting old moment," and He felt that pain or fear or apprehension. He understands. 

God understands our aches and pains, and our infirmities and fears:

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years approach when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”....For man goes to his eternal home while the mourners move around in the street. 6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the spring is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 7 then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 1:1, 5b-7)

Solomon was inspired to write this not only to encourage the young (to seek the Lord early) but to encourage the aging to think about the Lord; we need to keep God in mind as we live the days He gives to us. Keeping the Lord in mind will make our relationship with Him stronger; we will more easily recognize the importance (or irrelevance) of earthly things, and we will come to depend upon Him more. 

It may not be something that we want to dwell on, but as the old song says, "This world is not my home." That's where the "trusting in a lively hope of heaven" part comes in. (Grin)  It's entirely logical to say that we are closer to our "homegoing" now than we were when we were teenagers. But this is not a time of sorrow -- it's a time of joy! This should be a happy thought! Our bodies may be getting creakier and a bit more frail, but our spirits should be strengthening! My post is getting lengthy, so I'll not paste in the verses here, but PLEASE encourage your hearts by re-reading II Corinthians 4:17 through 5:8, OK? Deal? Good!

Our faith should strengthen as we grow older, as we remember God's care in times past, and enjoy evidences of His caring today. We are truly pilgrims:

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen and welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country which they left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:13-16)

Wow!

That hope of heaven will definitely make us tackle life with enthusiasm!  That's where we will pick up again tomorrow, OK?