The best advice we can receive in old age is to say with the Psalmist, "This is the day that the Lord has made"; I'm going to rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24).
By the way young people, you can help older people not to worry by staying in touch, letting them know that you're going to be there when we need you most. Dr. Ken Chafin wrote a wonderful tribute to his elderly parents:
"When you forget your own address and find yourself on strange streets, we'll sell your car, and I'll drive you to all the places you need to go . . . like you did for me when I was a child."
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"When the words on the menu don't match the pictures in your mind, and you keep ordering things you won't eat, then I'll order the food that I know you'll enjoy . . . like you did for me when I was a child."
"When finding your way at church is frightening, I'll take you to your class and pick you up and let you sit with me in big church . . . like you did for me when I was a child."
"When hot and cold faucets confuse you, I'll put you in a tub of warm water and give you a bath . . . like you did for me when I was a child."
"When you forget who people are and can't tell your family from total strangers, I'll be your memory and tell you their names . . . like you did for me when I was a child."
"When you forget who I am, not just my name or my birthday, but that you ever had children, then there isn't much I can do but go somewhere and cry . . . like I sometimes did when I was a child."
It's good to know that even when we are tempted to be complacent, inflexible, regretful, critical, or worried that we're still loved. But there's something better you can do for us than just promise to care for us. You remind us of God's promises to care for us in life or in death. Keep reminding us that He has promised, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" (Rev. 21:4).
There's an 85-year-old man in the Bible named Caleb who never yielded to any of these temptations. You may remember that Caleb was only one of two spies who believed the Israelites could conquer Canaan but he was voted down. Forty-five years later, the Israelites are marching victoriously through Canaan, and he says to Joshua, "I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said" (Josh 14:11-12).
Caleb is an inspiration because he kept on serving, kept on changing, kept on focusing on the future, kept on being positive about people, and kept on trusting that God would take care of him. And of course He did. May we follow in his steps as we approach his age.
We offer an invitation hymn today for people of every age to make decisions. But let me say a word to older people. Some of you have been attending this church a long time. You're comfortable here. But it's time to get out of your comfort zone and give your life to Christ. You think, 'I'll do it someday — but someday you'll run out of days. The Bible says, "Now is the time of God's favor; now is the day of salvation."
Some of you are already Christians, and you've been worshipping here for a long time. Maybe it's time for you to make a decision to become a member of this local body and make a commitment to using your gifts to the fullest. Say with the Psalmist, "This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it."
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Bob Russell is Pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. He is a Contributing Editor of Preaching.