When God placed man in the Garden of Eden, He gave them (Adam and his wife Eve) one command. They were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and they were told that if they did so, “Thou shalt certainly die” (Gen. 2:1717But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:17) JND). Freely translated, this phrase could also be rendered, “Dying thou shalt die.” Adam and Eve did disobey this command, and ever since that time man has had to cope with the various effects of aging. Of course death has come in for reasons other than aging, for serious illness, accidents, and other factors have caused men and women to die at a young age. Yet it remains that for most of us, aging means a general slowing down of our physical and mental abilities, with all of the difficulties associated with this, and with the end being death.
As we approach this problem in 2026, many in this world are seeking earnestly to age gracefully without Christ, much in the spirit of Cain, who “went out from the presence of the Lord,” and tried to make himself as comfortable as possible in a world spoiled by sin, but leaving God out of his life. In western nations many so-called “baby boomers” — those born after World War 2 — are doing their best to live well as they enter old age, while others who are younger are trying to retire at increasingly earlier ages, so as to enjoy more and more leisure time before death overtakes them. For some this works out well, as far as this life is concerned, while for others various debilitating diseases overtake them, rendering their retirement years more of a burden than a time of enjoyment.
When We’re Near Home
For those who know Christ as their Savior, all this takes on (or should take on!) a very different flavor, although we are subject to the same aging processes that affect unbelievers. If we have lived our lives for the Lord, and have a risen Christ in glory before us, then old age can be the richest time in our lives. I am reminded of a relatively young man who was sprinting up a long flight of stairs to the auditorium at a Bible conference, after having taken his meal in the dining room. While doing so he caught up with two elderly ladies who were going much more slowly, step by step, up those same stairs. With a smile he remarked to them, “Don’t you wish you were young again, and could go up these stairs quickly, as I can”? One of them smiled back, and replied, “When we’re this near home?” It was a good answer, for they had lived most of their lives, and were looking forward to being with Christ. (They are both now with the Lord, for this incident took place more than sixty years ago.)
Bad Tendencies
However, not every true Christian ages gracefully. In Psalm 19:13,13Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. (Psalm 19:13) David could pray, “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.” There may be a tendency towards certain sins all our life, but during our younger years those tendencies may be kept relatively out of sight by human energy. However, if the root is not judged before the Lord, then, when human energy begins to fail, those sinful tendencies may come out more overtly.
I would suggest that one of the most serious sins in anyone, but especially in a Christian, is pride. If we are not accorded the respect and honor that we feel is due to us as we get older, we may respond in an irritated manner. I remember an older brother whom I knew well, but who exclaimed as he found himself unable to travel anymore, “I’m just on the scrapheap”! He had been used of the Lord all his life, but was unable to face having to remain at home much of the time as he got older. But as our work for the Lord becomes more “behind the scenes,” old age can become the richest period of our life. What we do tends to have less of self in it, and can have more of Christ, as our reputation does not get in the way.
As we get older, it is to be hoped that we judge ourselves less and less according to “man’s day” (1 Cor. 4:3 JnD). In writing to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul realized that appearances during “man’s day” could be deceiving. There might be “hidden things of darkness” as well as “the counsels of the hearts,” and only the Lord can fully know both of these. They will come out only at the judgment seat of Christ. But both of these will tend to be more manifest in old age, and again, it is to be hoped that we have judged those “hidden things of darkness” so that they do not spoil our later years.
Set Patterns
There may be many picking up this issue who are not into their “senior” years. Even if you are still young and energetic, you are setting the patterns for old age, should the Lord leave us here. You do not suddenly become gracious and thoughtful by trying to inject those characteristics into your life at a late date. Your younger years are the time to set the stage in your walk with the Lord, as to the type of “senior” you are going to be.
In this issue of The Christian we hope to reflect on some of those traits that help us to age gracefully, while at the same time reminding ourselves of those things that can hinder us in this.
W. J. Prost