“But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus — the work of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love.” — Acts 20:24
I have a special audience in mind here so bear with me if you feel like somehow you don’t fit — because if you don’t now, you will someday. Trust me. This is addressed to My Generation. We are older than the boomers. I guess we’re better known as “senior citizens.” Of course, I prefer, “Senior Saints.”
I remember the first time I was asked if I was a senior citizen by a friendly waitress wanting to give me a free cup of coffee. I lied. I wasn’t ready for that designation. Now I can’t escape it — and I don’t want to. I’ve learned that those extra discounts add up when you’re on a fixed income!
I sometimes feel like I’m in the prime of my life with one exception. To borrow a great quote from my friend Dennis Cole, “I’ve discovered that aging can be shocking. There is a moment when “that person in the mirror really isn’t me!’ It’s just what I look like these days. Right? Help!”
Our contemporary western culture has invented a word that many of us at our age know too well and quite frankly have become enamored with. Most of us have accepted it without rebuttal. The word is, “retirement.” The problem with that word, the way we use it, is that it’s not in the Bible. Sorry, it’s just not there. So now what do we do? What we do now is finish the race. Some “Senior Saints” I know have quit running, as if the race was over. But it’s not over until it’s over — and God has a way of letting us know when that is — He takes us home.
The apostle Paul, who was still going full speed well into his sixties, said this,“You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept your from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you (Gal. 5:7-8).
There are literally thousands of Christian organizations today that need your wisdom, your experience, your talent and yes, your checkbook, as they bring glory and honor to God through their ministries. There is a place for you. If God has blessed you with relatively good health and material things so that you don’t have to worry about that part of life anymore, you are in a perfect place to volunteer your gifts and abilities to further the cause of Christ wherever you live.
So my older friends, if you’ve quit running, hey, a slow walk is O.K. with God. So let’s get back in the race. You’ll have an eternity to rest up. Maranatha!
Pastor Don
