God and Aging

 

 

READ Psalm 71–75

More and more I’m seeing the differences between human wisdom and God’s wisdom, human thinking and the will of God. Someone said to me, “It must be easier to be a Christian as you get older.” These words burn in my heart as I realize the length of the journey combined with my grandmother’s words: “Too old too soon, too late smart.” With age comes weakness, yet with experience comes a knowledge of God that was completely unknown to me as a youth.

This morning I asked the Lord to show me Himself in His Word. Instead, He gave me a glimpse at myself along with the contrast of fleshy, human thinking compared to what is true in the kingdom of God. First came a prayer that reflects a desire that comes with passing years and a deepening relationship with Him:

Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent. My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. (Psalm 71:9; 15–18)

God reveals how a spiritual person looks to the end of life with a hopeful attitude. Instead of being ‘put out to pasture’ growing older is not a fear but an exciting adventure. I think of my relative who just died at 104 and still had a desire to work and contribute to the world — and he was not a religious man. Shame on any Christians who ‘retire’ from spiritual activity and retreat into complaints about aging and their aching bodies. Instead, the psalmist says:

You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. You will increase my greatness and comfort me again. (Psalm 71:20–21)

Nor should we dread death. God not only says, “He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life” but adds “and precious is their blood in his sight.” (Psalm 72:13–14) Death is not the end yet so many elderly fear it, even elderly Christians. I don’t want to fear that which ushers me into eternal life with my Lord and Savior. By His grace, I want to always think and say:

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! (Psalm 72:18–19)

These days of war in Ukraine and the evil done for reasons beyond me are on my heart too, yet God speaks to that also. He knows I need to hear the experience of the psalm writer:

But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms . . . . Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:16–26)

And He adds thoughts for prayer concerning this evil: “For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you” (Psalm 73:27) and “Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day! Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually!” (Psalm 74:22–23) and “but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.” (Psalm 75:7–8)

If getting older means learning more of the power and wisdom of God, then bring it on. Grant me, O Lord, the grace to keep my mind on You and Your thoughts, not on the problems of having an aging body and an often forgetful mind. Human thinking gives in to self-pity and regrets; godly thinking seeks Your face and deeper understanding. It is filled with praise for the goodness and glory of who You are and what You are doing. May that be my focus today and always!

 

Remembering them, remembering God

Today we take time to remember those whose lives were offered fighting to preserve our freedoms. It seems odd for I live in a country that has not been involved in any major war in my lifetime, at least war that is vivid in my memory. I was very young when WWII ended. Those other smaller wars seemed so far away, partly because I didn’t know any soldiers. Even though I’m moved by the aged survivors and seeing those coming back from battles and peace-keeping missions, I admit wondering how to respond when war is hard to remember. Certainly I don’t want to take this freedom for granted. 
 

David wrote some of his psalms during conflict. He was a warrior king for much of his life and was persecuted by Saul for a long time before he even took the throne. He was also a sinner and thankful to God for forgiveness. This psalm tells me that he didn’t take his freedom for granted either. He begins with . . .

“Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.”

I watch the old soldiers and those who are young. Their faces sometimes show the pain of their battles, but this is not the pain David speaks of. He knows he does not deserve the kindness of God. He asks for mercy as he asks for deliverance, feeling the horrors of being crushed by his enemy.

He also remembers, but not the battles. He says, “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.”

How is this remembering compared to November 11 remembering? Certainly it is happier. David recalls the many times God delivered him, rescued him, sheltered and guided him. He remembers the creative power of God and the care He shows. This is the man who wrote, “The Lord is my Shepherd . . .” so he remembers the still waters and the restoration of his soul. He knows the goodness of God and is thinking about it.

David is also in trouble, unnamed but he is deeply threatened. He cries out to God, remembering that God has delivered him before and He can do it again. He says, “I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge.”

Then David says something that I find instructive for this Remembrance Day. He says to God, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.” (Psalm 143:1–12)

I will honor the fallen and remember, but I am also asking God, as David did, to teach me His will. He is my God. I want Him to lead me and preserve me, to take care of all threats against my life and my soul, not for me, but for His name’s sake.

Wearing a poppy and remembering is a good thing. It is also good to ask God to deal with our enemies and take charge of our lives as we acknowledge His part in securing and preserving the freedom that we enjoy.