LET us turn to a happier phase of our theme. We have spoken of the regrets of old age; now let us think of IT’S JOYS.
I begin by quoting the testimony of one who drank deeply of them, and whose words have been a blessing to me. He says: “My mouth is full of laughter and my heart is full of joy." I feel so sorry for folks who don't like to grow old, and who are trying all the time to hide the fact that they are growing old, and who are ashamed to tell how old they are. I revel in my years. They enrich me. If God should say to me, “I will let you begin over again, and you may have your youth back once more," I should say, " Oh, dear Lord, if Thou dost not mind, I prefer to go on growing old."
I would not exchange the peace of mind, the abiding rest of soul, the measure of wisdom I have gained from the sweet and bitter and perplexing experiences of life; nor the confirmed faith I now have in the moral order of the universe, and in the unfailing mercies and love of God, for all the bright and uncertain hopes and tumultuous joys of youth. Indeed, I would not!
These are the best years of my life—the sweetest, and the most free from anxious care. The way grows brighter; the birds sing sweeter; the winds blow softer; the sun shines more radiantly than ever before. I suppose "my outward man" is perishing, but "my inward man" is being joyously renewed day by day. Some lessons that I have learned, or partially learned, I here pass on:
1. That we cultivate faith in God-in His providence; in His superintending care; in His unfailing love.
2. That we accept the bitter in life, along with the sweet, and rejoice in both. The bitter may be better for us than the sweet. We shouldn't be impatient or fretful. If we “fall into divers temptations (or find ourselves hedged in by various trials [Weymouth])", we should “count it all joy, knowing that the trial of our faith worketh patience"; we should "let patience have her perfect work, that we may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing".
Victory is to be attained through the joyful acceptance of annoying trials, and petty vexations, as a part of God's discipline (James 1:2-72My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. (James 1:2‑7)).
3. We should keep a heart full of love towards everybody. We should learn to be patient with folks who try our patience. If we can't love them with complacency, then we may love them with compassion and pity; but we should love them, pray for them, and should not carry about with us hard thoughts and feelings toward them.
Oh! the joy of living a life of service; of love; and of growing up into Him in all things, which is the Head —even Christ. Such a life never grows old; it is perpetually renewed and has a perennial freshness, like the springing, sparkling fountain fed by the unfailing waters flowing down from the everlasting hills. Hallelujah!
Dr. Stevens quotes the testimony of one who knew John Wesley in his later years. “So fine an old man I never saw. The happiness of his mind beamed forth in his countenance; every look showed how fully he enjoyed the gay remembrance of his life well spent. Wherever he went he diffused a portion of his own felicity.... While the grave and serious were charmed with his wisdom, his sportive sallies of innocent mirth delighted even the young and thoughtless. In him old age appeared delightful—like an evening without a cloud; and it was impossible to observe him without wishing frequently: ' may my latter end be like this '."
I was reading, only the other day, of an old saint, of whom it was told that she used to say: “Try living every moment of each individual day without spoiling the present by grumbling over the disappointments of the past, or by fears for the future." One of her slogans was “arise joyfully ", whatever one may have to face during the day.
In his last message to the world, W. H. Lax of Poplar, who did such a marvelous work for God and man among the poor of that London district, has some wise counsels. He points out that there are two sorts of age. There is the age of the body, and the age of the mind. The one, to a large extent, governs the other. You cannot keep the two apart.
“The age of the body, apart from actual disease, depends upon the vital organs; the heart, lungs, and the like. These are ' set ' for a certain period. They may get worn out, either by fair wear and tear, or, much sooner, by unfair wear and tear. You cannot help that.
“But you can control the age of your mind. You can, if you face life in the right spirit, keep the mind young almost indefinitely. And remember that the mind controls the activities and energies of all the rest of the body. It is the supreme organ. If you let the mind grow old the body will grow old also.
“How are you to keep the mind young? The most important thing is to cultivate a cheerful spirit, never allowing pessimism to gain the upper hand. Make up your mind to maintain a buoyant outlook on life. When the sun shines, let it shine on you. Gray days will come, but always think of the sunny days which must assuredly follow. Hang on to your sense of humor with both hands. The older you grow, the more you will need it. Most of the neurotic wrecks one sees, and some of the mental ones, are the natural result of a morbid outlook on life.
“And keep an open, active mind. You cannot keep the mind young if you persist in looking at the gloomy side, or in closing it to new ideas, muffling it up in prejudices and stifling its enthusiasms. It is losing the thrill and zest of life that makes a man old. He doesn't lose the thrill because he is old; he becomes old because he has lost the thrill. The moment a man loses his sense of wonder at the beauty of a sunset, or the glory of heroism and self-sacrifice, or the intricate markings on a butterfly's wing, or the marvels of science—he becomes old."
It was said of Lord Guthrie that he grew with the years in tolerance, openness of mind, and sympathetic understanding. He never grew old in spirit and outlook, but kept eagerness and buoyancy of youth to the end.
I must not forget to say that, for a Christian, the two sources of purest joy are the devotional reading of the Bible, and prayer. Hear the testimonies of some of the saints regarding the first of these: Job, chapter 23:12; David, Psa. 119:9797MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. (Psalm 119:97); Jeremiah, chapter 15, 16. Read carefully also John 15 and Col. 3. As regards the second—prayer secures joy—( John 16. 24) and brings the heart into a condition of peace-(Phil. 4: 6-7). I shall speak more fully of these two things in the next chapter.
The message that comes to us from this chapter is contained in HABAKKUK 3:17-1817Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:17‑18): “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."