Aging Well

      I’m 54 years old.  I do not consider myself a senior citizen but have three grandchildren and three more on the way!  I read recently that the average life span for American men is 73 and for women is 79 (Not Too Old, David Faust, 13).  Therefore, if I am average, I have 19 years left; the sand is rapidly flowing to the bottom of my proverbial hourglass.  I appreciate the challenge of author David Faust to make our later years our greater years. The question we should wrestle with is how do we finish well?   
       First, believe God will use your later years powerfully.  The Bible is full of stories of God using the aged.  An ancient Noah (about 500 years old) is called to build an ark and reboot humanity.  When Abraham and Sarah are old enough to be wearing depends, God gives them a miracle son through whom they will establish the Jewish nation. Octogenarian Moses is one of the greatest leaders the world has ever seen, leading the Jewish slaves to freedom. God is not done with you! There is a remarkable 77-year-old in my church named Rocky MacDonald who is one of God’s dedicated servants.  He serves as a volunteer prison chaplain and helps every week with our teen youth group.  I asked him if he had any advice on aging well as a Christian.  He said he learned from drag racing with his kids that you have to put your foot all the way down and keep it there or the race is over.  He went on to say that when you keep your foot firmly planted on the pedal in drag racing you hit your highest speed and velocity at the finish line! At seventy-seven his foot is still firmly planted.  
       Second, be intentional.  There is a beautiful Scripture written by King David.  He states, “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.” (Psalm 92:12-14).  This fruitfulness flows from intentional effort.  How are you pouring into the next generation?  When we look at an aging Apostle Paul in the New Testament, we see him investing in the young man Timothy.  Who is your Timothy?  This investment can be formal or more organic.  Over the years I have accepted interns whenever I can.  My latest stayed on our church staff for two years. I attempt to share the lessons I have learned.  I set up opportunities for them to interview effective leaders.  I let them try things and then give them encouraging but honest feedback on how they did.  Author John Maxwell says, ‘There is no success without a successor.” We do not accidentally bear generational fruit; fruitfulness comes from intentional, faithful investment.
      Third, pray boldly and faithfully. Hopefully as we age our wisdom grows.  I look back on some of the prayers I prayed as a young man and am slightly amused.  I am quieter in prayer the older I get.  Now I ask God what should I even be praying about?  My prayers about my circumstances have shrunk, my prayers for our kids and grandkids have grown.  Remember that your prayers do not have an expiration date.  I could be dead and gone by the time my grandchildren and great grandchildren marry but I am praying over their choice of spouse now.  If Christ tarries, I assume that Journey Christian Church will be sharing the gospel in this community long after my funeral. I am praying over their future effectiveness now. 
       Mature believers, this is your moment! God’s call on your life has never been more important than right now.
Pastor Derek Dickinson
Journey Christian Church