TCR Theme:   Longevity 2189             Old Age 2191               Reverence of Aged 3974

When we read some of the accounts of Bible figures we are told that some of these people lived long lives. The oldest man in the Bible is Methuselah who lived until he was 969 years old according to Genesis 5:27. It is clear that people in the Bible lived a lot longer than people today. According to Psalm 90:10 our lifespan is between 70 and 80 years. It is clear that people in the Bible had different physical conditions to us today that limits our lifespan. Before the flood people were not exposed to the rays of the sun like we are today. The oldest person alive today is a woman by the name of Maria Brayas who is 116 years old. The oldest man in Wales, until recently, was Geoff Walker Patrick who lived to the grand old age of 106. Geoff lived in Llay, Wrexham and on a few occasions, I had the honour of meeting him.

In James 1:10 the Bible talks about life fading away like grass. The shortness of life cries out to us to put our faith in Christ because we do not know the hour of our death. Times fades so fast and before you realise it, you are old. Many young people think they have decades left and can put off eternal matters until they are in their dotage. Don’t put off Christ until those declining years. Come to him at the earliest opportunity is the message of the shortness of life.

If you visit the grave of Archbishop Henry Chichele in Canterbury Cathedral you will see at the bottom of his tomb some words in Latin. In English, they read, “I was pauper-born then to primate raised. Now I am cut down and served up for worms. Behold my grave.” In death, Chichele is speaking to us. He is saying no matter how you are born or what position you hold in life you will one day die. You will be like me, turned into food for worms. I think he is trying to tell us to focus on what really matters in life, and that is one day you are going to stand before God and how will money, wealth or position going to help you then.

Responsibility In Scripture.

We are told we have a responsibility to honour the elderly. Leviticus 19:32 says, “You shall rise up before the grayheaded and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD.” Old age is not a stumbling block to being used by God. Joshua was old and advanced in years yet he was used by God (Joshua 13:1). Young age is also not a barrier to being used by God. In John 6:8-9 we read about a young lad used in the service of God. In 1 Timothy 4:12, we are told to not look down on youthfulness. Whatever our age we have a responsibility in the service of God. There are no retirement homes in the Christian life. While you have breath in your body you are of great value in the practical service of God. The elderly have great value (Psalm 92:14 & Luke 2:36).

One of the great things about having older people in the Church is that they can teach the young about life and give them good advice (Proverbs 6:20-23). Most of the great lessons I have learnt in life are from people much older than myself. There is great wisdom and blessing in sitting down and talking about spiritual matters to people older than yourself. I for one have learned a great deal from talking to older people and will always be thankful for their guidance and sagacity. This is also an encouragement to older people. Do not think because you are old you cannot be used by God and that you have nothing to offer the young. You have a great deal to offer and your wisdom is invaluable.

Message to the Young.

If there is one message the Bible has for the young it is this. Seek God at a young age. Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 says, “Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.” In chapter 12:1 of the same book Solomon writes, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them.”

This is why we ought to obey God at a young age. A good example of a young person obeying, seeking and serving God is Josiah who was eight years old when he became king (2 Kings 22:1-2). Josiah was King of Judah from approximately 640 to 609 B.C. He was the son of King Amon and the grandson of King Manasseh both of whom were wicked kings. Josiah was a godly king. Many young people have parents and family members who mistreat them and are bad examples. This can damage young children but it is not an obstacle to serving God. King Josiah called for a time of national repentance, cleansed the temple of pagan worship and delayed judgment on Judah due to his faithfulness to God (2 Kings 22:19-20). There are many positives that the youth of today can learn from the life of King Josiah. In 2 Chronicles 34:3, the Bible says, “For in the eighth year of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, the carved images and the molten images.”

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Romans 8:20-21