“Growing old is a bummer!” I can’t begin counting the number of times Donna and I have uttered that over the past two years. That was, until the Holy Spirit challenged me to study what the Bible says about aging. Honestly, I did not think I would find many verses, if any, about growing old. Boy! was I in for a surprise. Instead, I discovered countless scriptures that teach lessons about aging. Solomon devotes an entire chapter.
Growing old is a normal and natural part of life. It is one of the four stages of the human experience. However, we resist this stage the most because it is the last phase and ends with physical death. The western mindset and perspective only see aging in a negative light. Contrast this to Jewish culture, which values seniors as elders and views them as leaders and a repository of knowledge. They must be held in high esteem and treated with respect. Older people have gained from their life experiences and have much to share with the next generation (www.taginstitute.org).
Society has engrained Baby boomers like myself to focus on maintaining youthfulness. In 2020, the global anti-aging market was estimated to be worth about $58.5 billion U.S. dollars. The anti-aging message has spread through multiple means, not least in commercials that promise to remove the signs of aging. However, these merely mask the signs of growing old. Studies have found that no product or intervention that will slow, stop, or reverse the aging process.
So, what does the Bible say about aging? Growing older is an honor. “Gray hair is a crown of glory…” (Proverbs 16:31 NASV). Gray hair is a mark of distinction, the award for a God-loyal life (MSG). With long life will he be rewarded; and I will let him see my salvation. (Psalm 91:16 BBE). Someone said that achieving old age is a Divine Tribute. Every day of growing older is a gracious gift from God. A recent coffee commercial has this jingle, “The best part of waking up is ‘their coffee’ in a cup.” I have reached the point, “The best part of waking up is just waking up”—then a cup of coffee.
Scripture also teaches aging comes with challenges. Growing older is not the same for everybody; however, increasing limitations will happen. Often it is gradual, but sometimes, change is sudden. Everything in physical life is temporal. Our bodies are wearing out. Paul wrote . . . our outer self is wasting away (2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV). President John Quincy Adams, was once asked how he was, responded, “John Quincy Adams is very well himself, sir, but the house in which he lives is falling to pieces. Time and seasons have nearly destroyed it. The roof is well worn, the walls shattered. It trembles with every gale. I think John Quincy Adams will soon have to move out. But he himself is very well.”
After telling us our outer self is wasting away, Paul continues, . . . we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day (NET). Aging provides the opportunity for increased growth toward spiritual maturity and wisdom. Chronological aging erodes the resources of physical life but does not deteriorate the value of our soul/spirit nor limit our ability to grow in Christ.
God continues to care for us and still sees us as valuable. They will still bear fruit in old age . . . (Ps 92:14). “Wisdom is with aged men, With long life is understanding (Job 12:12). God gives us this promise: Even when you are old, I will take care of you, even when you have gray hair, I will carry you. I made you and I will support you; I will carry you and rescue you (Is 46:4 NET). He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age (Ruth 4:15).
Learning to live and function, as we grow older, is like the change when moving to another country with a totally unfamiliar culture. After the novelty of our move to Africa wore off, we began disliking the differences and longed for a life like it was in America. Knowing that was not possible for four more years, we slowly began adjusting to living there until we embraced our new culture, letting go of the past and enjoying the good we discovered.
Our stage four of life is a new culture. Solomon writes in detail in Ecclesiastes 12 the changes that take place. All seniors should study this chapter. Note a few verses that spoke to me. The winter years keep you close to the fire (v2); I don’t like to be out when it’s cold. Many activities I used to love (fishing, hunting, travel, etc.); “I have no enjoyment and delight in them” (v1). In old age, your body no longer serves you so well, the keepers of the house (hands, arms) tremble, and the strong men (feet, knees) bow themselves (v3). Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past. Even a stroll down the road has its terrors (v5). (Quotes from Amplified & Message Bibles).
Sustaining Word for the Week: Life, lovely while it lasts, is soon over. Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends (6-7). But that opens the doorway to a new quality of eternal existence.