 |
| Painting by Tan Soh Beng |
"What is your life? You are like a mist that appears for a while and then vanishes. In the morning it springs like new but by evening it is dry and withered." James 4:14 and Psalm 90:10
Today is my 70th birthday. I have reached the Biblical watershed of Age, three scores and ten. I do not feel old yet and believe that there will be many more good years of service for God and the church. Consider James 4:13, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live.
I hope I have lived well. Scripture describes living well as a person who is like a tree planted by the waterside. 'Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God. Instead, they find joy in obeying the law of the Lord and they study it day and night. They are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do. Psalm 1:1-3
A man's life is valued by how close he has walked with God, the family he has brought up and the friends he has made and kept through many years. One does not leave behind any great legacies, only lasting memories. On that score, I am a very fortunate man, as this video of birthday greetings will attest, I have many faithful friends.
So what lies ahead? J I Packer in his book, Finishing Our Course With Joy wrote "Some grow old gracefully, meaning, fully in the grip of the grace of God. Increasingly they display a well-developed understanding with a well formed character: firm, resilient and unyielding, with a firm sense of proportion and abundant resources for upholding and mentoring others." (Ref 1)
Packer introduced the idea of Spiritual Ripeness. He wrote, "Spiritual ripeness is worth far more than material wealth in any form, and that spiritual ripeness should continue to increase as one gets older. The Bible's view is that aging, under God and by grace, will bring wisdom, that is, an enlarged capacity for discerning, choosing and encouraging."
The more I think
You only get a minute, better live while you’re in it
'Cause it’s gone in a blink
And the older I get
The truer it is
It’s the people you love, not the money and stuff
That makes you rich
And if they found a fountain of youth
I wouldn’t drink a drop and that’s the truth
Funny how it feels I’m just getting to my best years yet
The older I get
The fewer friends I have
But you don’t need a lot when the ones that you got
Have always got your back
And the older I get
The better I am
At knowing when to give
And when to just not give a damn
And if they found a fountain of youth
I wouldn’t drink a drop and that’s the truth
Funny how it feels I’m just getting to my best years yet
The older I get
And I don’t mind all the lines
From all the times I’ve laughed and cried
Souvenirs and little signs of the life I’ve lived
The older I get
The longer I pray
I don’t know why, I guess that I
Got more to say
And the older I get
The more thankful I feel
For the life I’ve had, and all the life I’m living still
In a country and western catchy tune we are told that Aging with God should be the principle of our next lap. Like Alan Jackson, J I Packer gave three advice:
First, live for God one day at a time. We should acquire the habit of keeping God informed every morning and reviewing before God as each day closes.
Second, live in the present moment. Packer said to get into the way of practicing God's presence. Get God into the picture of our day and cultivate divine companionship moment by moment.
Third, live ready to go when Christ comes for us. As far as we can put our lives in order and get right with God day by day. Then we will always be prepared.
And so I hope to journey on under the guiding hands of God. This is God's promise. (Proverbs 2:5-6 and 9-11)
'Then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding
Then you will understand what is right and just and fair
- for every good path
For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge
will be pleasant to your soul
Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you.'
Lionel
Ref 1: J I Packer. Finishing Our Course With Joy - Guidance from God for Engaging with our Aging. Crossway 2014
