Finishing Well and Strong
Old age is often associated with being weak, forgetful, not being able to walk properly due to arthritis or some other medical condition that affects a person’s pace and ability to walk steadily. Old people are known to suffer from loneliness and depression, have chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease and stroke. In some elderly people, their ability to think clearly, learn and remember is weakened resulting in dementia. No wonder people dread getting old.
When we look at God’s Word which should be our guide post for life, we see that you can be old and healthy, old and beautiful, old and fruitful, old and live an impactful life. Sarah looked gorgeous even in old age. At the age of 65, her husband described her as a beautiful woman (Genesis 12:11). The Egyptians took one look at her, saw that she was stunningly beautiful and told Pharaoh about this striking woman they had seen (Genesis 12:14-15). Many years after, when Sarah was much older, another king was captivated by her beauty and brought her into his home (Genesis 20).
Sarah was fruitful in old age. She experienced a divine visitation in her old age (Genesis 21:1-2). A visitation that made her a mother at the age of 90 and terminated barrenness, shame and reproach in her life. You can never be too old to have a testimony from God.
Luke 2:36-37 tells us of Anna an eighty-four year old widow who devoted her time and life to prayer, fasting and worshipping God in the temple. Something a lot of young people find difficult to do. She was old, yet still in active service for the Lord, old and still releasing prophetic words and telling people about Christ (Luke 2:38). What an impactful way to spend the latter part of your life.
God’s Will for the Elderly
The Word of God is the mind and will of God. The Word of God reveals how God wants elderly people to live and be treated. Here are five important things we discover from God’s Word concerning the elderly:
- God has promised that even to their old age and grey hair, He will take good care of them. He will carry them through every season, situation and challenge that comes their way. He will save and deliver them from harm, danger and afflictions (Isaiah 46:4).
- God has declared that even in their old age, they will still bear fruit, they will be fresh and stay strong (Psalm 92:14). They will have fruitful and productive minds, their bodies will be fresh and strong.
- It is God’s will that they live to see their children’s children (Psalm 128:6). The crown; the source of honour, glory and joy of grandparents are their grandchildren (Proverbs 17:6). For every parent and elderly person looking forward to carrying your children’s children, I prophesy into your life that for your unmarried children, God will connect them to their life partners and their union will be blessed and fruitful. For those who are already married, the hand of God and the yoke destroying anointing of God will rest on your children and there shall be none barren amongst your children in Jesus mighty name. Amen!
- God is interested in their living a legacy. The best legacy you can live and leave is a legacy of faith (2 Timothy 1:5, Proverbs 13:22). You can’t give what you don’t have. And so for every parent, grandparent and elderly person yet to have a personal relationship with Jesus, today we release the convicting power of the Holy Spirit on you and pray for the light of Christ to shine into your hearts to open up to Jesus as Lord. For those already in the faith, may your faith not be small, weak and shaking in the day of adversity (Proverbs 24:10), and may you continue to grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
- God’s desire is for them to finish well and strong (2 Timothy 4:7, Ecclesiastes 7:8). It’s not how well you start a race that matters but how you end. Overtime, athletes have learnt that starting a race well doesn’t guarantee that you are going to win the race. May the glory of the latter part of the lives of our parents, grandparents and elderly loved ones be more glorious than their beginning. May they grow in grace. May they end in glory not shame. May they end in God and with God. Amen and Amen.
