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There was a time that I was considered the youngest man in our group. During those years, I felt that no one took me seriously because of my age. After more than three decades, I am now considered an “institution” in our community. By that word, they mean the “old” or the “seniors.”

I have a mixed feeling towards that point of view. Though I am glad that my opinions are listened to, but I no longer possess the vitality that I once had. It seems that I already lost the idealism that I possessed when I was young. Perhaps, this is because I now feel the declining capacity of my body. I am now actually counting my days. I am grateful if I will be given twenty to twenty-five years more.

Life is short. But I can’t escape my responsibilities. Perhaps this is the consequence of marrying late. My sons are still young. Despite my limitations, they still need my assistance. Five years from now, I dream to be free from my current duties for me to do the things that I love to do.

During my younger years, I met many aging people who are both deteriorating in physical capabilities as well as internal strength. They kept mentioning the mistakes of the past. It is as if those mistakes have become their chains. I find it very rare to see old people who are still physically healthy and full of energy. And it is even rarer to see old people who maintain their spiritual vitality.

Those who believe that the Bible is the manual for life, are confident that the word of God has something to say about the flourishing of divine grace in the life of His people even in old age. Psalm 92:12-15 is such a text.

In this text, we can find a divine promise. It describes the spiritual vitality of the righteous even in old age. I dream to see old men and women of God living in such promise, that during their later years in life, they still grow continually in their understanding and walk in the path of grace. If they live such a life, God is glorified.

How does Psalm 92:12-15 describe grace in the life of His people as they age?

His grace will continue to flourish and grow.

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree; they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon.”

The NIV Life Application Bible explains the meaning of this:

Palm trees are known for their long life. To flourish like palm trees means to stand tall and to live long. The cedars of Lebanon grew to 120 feet in height and up to 30 feet in circumference; thus, they were solid, strong, and immovable. The psalmist saw believers as upright, strong, and unmoved by the winds of circumstance. Those who place their faith firmly in God can have this strength and vitality.

This means that if you are related to God in and through Jesus, though you are aging, you are described in those glorious terms. This promise tells about the certainty that God’s people will remain strong, immovable, stable, and will continually grow in spiritual vitality until the end of their lives here on earth.

His grace will continue to bear fruit in your life and even though you are aging, you will stay fresh and green.

The psalmist said that this promise of freshness and productivity will remain even in old age.

In the Bible, the pinnacle of man’s life is not his young age but his old age. This is because one’s inherent worth and prestige increase steadily with the passing of years. The Holy Scriptures never make a secret of a person’s age. We know the ages of Abraham (175), Isaac (180), Jacob (147), Ishmael (137), Sarah (127), Moses (120), Joseph (110), Joshua (110), and Eli (98). The Bible’s emphasis on aging is not physical but spiritual and mental. Aging is not feared. It is welcomed with gladness and hope.

I forgot who said this:

Old age is not a defeat, but a victory; not a punishment, but a privilege.

In the biblical community, the elderly are not thought of as people who have outlived their usefulness. They are not made to feel that they ought to apologize for being alive. Aging is a cause for celebration. To be older is better. Gray hair is considered beautiful (Proverbs 20:29), and a crown of splendor (Proverbs 16:31). With gray hair came respect and honor (Leviticus 19:32).

The psalmist connects productivity even in old age. Rabbinic literature says:

He who learns from the young is like one who eats unripe grapes and drinks wine from the winepress. But he who learns from the old is like one who eats ripe grapes and drinks old wine.

Lastly, the grace of God will cause you to keep on proclaiming His Name even in old age.

The righteous can still serve as a mighty witness of God even in old age. The righteous will maintain the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord as his constant talk even in old age. The Lord will be the constant theme in his conversation. There will always be a song in his heart about the goodness of the Lord. He will never forget the first grace that transformed his life for such grace will be growing constantly even in old age.

John Owen, the English Puritan answered the question of how the discipline of meditation upon the beauty and glory of Jesus will restore His people to the paths of growth and productivity.

One, as we focus our mind on Jesus, the Spirit of God changes us every day, more and more, into the likeness of Christ himself.

Growth, flourishing, and fruitfulness will result from a constant reflection on Jesus’ glory. As we live in constant contemplation of the glory of Jesus, virtue will flow from him to repair all our decays and to renew a right spirit within us. This way of recovery is foolishness of course, in the eyes of the world. It is like washing in Jordan seven times to cure our leprosy. But the life of faith is a mystery known only to them that live in it.

Two, a meditation on the glory of Christ gives us delight and satisfaction in life.

Yes, in this life we cannot have a perfect vision of Christ. But as we draw nearer to that vision, the better, the more spiritual is the state of our mind and soul. Remember that most of our barrenness arises from the admission of unworthy thoughts into our mind and weaken the operation of grace in our lives. But when the mind is filled with the thoughts about Jesus, such thoughts are filled with power and strength to cast out all causes of spiritual weaknesses in our lives.

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Note:

I first published this article 11 years ago in Only By Grace. For quite some time, I have been looking for a community here on Hive for the purpose of Christian fellowship, theological education, and study of the Bible. I tried joining The Kingdom and Christian Fellowship. However, as I checked the communities’ activity, it appears to me, that there is nothing much going on in there. And so, I gave up looking for such communities, but then again last week as I was searching for posts published on CENT, I stumbled with a few articles sharing about relationship with God and Bible stories. I noticed that the article was published on ecoTrain. And then I asked the question if the ecoTrain community welcomes content related to Spirituality, Bible, and theology. @peckypeace responded that the ecoTrain community is the right place where I can share content related to Bible and spirituality. I am glad to find this community on Hive and this is my first post. Thanks @peckypeace!