Aging Superheroes?
They're
sure hard to find, but when you do...
.
The apostle Paul
did promise that while "outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are
being renewed day by day." In this way, the tough and cross-molded apostle
raised hopes that we could not just get older, but we could actually become
better! You may be young. If you are, you will be old one day or suffer an
alternative that is not so great. You may be "middle-aged" and
uncertain what to do with the last half of your life. You may be aging and
worry about your value in a world culture that chases youth. Rather than chase
the latest fad in age prevention or age denial, let's embrace the opportunities
the Lord has placed before us at every age.
by Phil
Ware
The Jesus Window
The wise teacher's words are as true as
they are depressingly descriptive:
“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
before
the days of trouble come
and
the years approach when you will say,
‘I
find no pleasure in them’ —
before
the sun and the light
and
the moon and the stars grow dark,
and
the clouds return after the rain;
when
the keepers of the house tremble,
and
the strong men stoop,
when
the grinders cease because they are few,
and those looking through the windows grow dim;
when
the doors to the street are closed
and
the sound of grinding fades;
when
people rise up at the sound of birds,
but
all their songs grow faint;
when
people are afraid of heights
and
of dangers in the streets;
when
the almond tree blossoms
and
the grasshopper drags itself along
and
desire no longer is stirred.
Then
people go to their eternal home
and
mourners go about the streets.
Remember
him — before the silver cord is severed,
and
the golden bowl is broken;
before
the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
and
the wheel broken at the well,
and
the dust returns to the ground it came from,
and
the spirit returns to God who gave it.” -
(Ecclesiastes
12:1—7).
As my octogenarian
mother repeatedly reminds me with the wag of her finger, "Just remember! Getting old isn't for sissies!"
But where do we go to find aging heroes of
faith?
The Bible does have a few — like Moses,
Joshua and Caleb — yet even in Scripture, those extraordinary heroes who are
old are hard to find.
My heart breaks to read of so many great
servants of God who blew it when they grew old.
So as the wise teacher's "days of trouble come" to me,
I'm hungry to find heroes who served God and grew better with age.
The apostle Paul
did promise that while "outwardly we
are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."
Over the years, I've looked for modern
heroes of faith who have done just that.
However, biblical heroes who demonstrate
this promise are harder to find.
That's one reason why I am so thankful that in the stories of Jesus' birth we have the great heroes of Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:25-40).
Simeon and Anna were old; really old (Luke 2:25-26, 36)
They didn't quit because of discouragement,
and they never gave up on God's promises even though their hopes had not been
realized for decades.
Because of their faith, they didn't become
sour, dour, or cynical despite the harsh political realities and religious
failings all around them.
They continued to look forward to the day
when God's promises would be answered.
They dedicated themselves to living by the
power of the Holy Spirit and pursuing God daily in prayer.
Then, on a most unlikely and otherwise
usual day, both had their dreams fulfilled and their hopes rewarded.
They got to meet baby Jesus, God's promised
Messiah.
They were privileged to proclaim the
dawning of God's salvation, the promised time of consolation for Israel and
redemption of Jerusalem.
For me, five shared qualities in these two
aging superheroes grab my attention and challenge me to step up my passion for
the LORD.
These shared qualities give me a road map
for how I want to live my life as I go forward and live the will of God. Anna
and Simeon:
o Sustained a vibrant
faith through prayer, fasting, and the power of the Holy Spirit even though
they lived in very difficult times (Luke 2:25-27, 37).
o Looked forward to
the future God had promised for his people, not at the current political circumstances
in which they found themselves (Luke 2:25, 38).
o Assured the parents
of Jesus that the future was bright because of their child even though their
lives would be touched with pain (Luke 2:29-32, 35, 38).
o Gave thanks for the
promised future that God was unfolding before their eyes and in their time (Luke 2:29-32, 38).
o Shared the good
news about Jesus with all who would listen to them (Luke 2:28, 38).
These shared qualities give me a road map for
how I want to live my life as I go forward.
You may be young. If you are, you will be
old one day or suffer an alternative that is not so great.
You may be "middle-aged" and
uncertain what to do with the last half of your life.
You may be aging and worry about your value
in a world culture that chases youth.
However, I am convinced that these five
qualities that we see in Anna and Simeon can add life to your years and value
to any age.
Rather than chase the latest fad in age
prevention or age denial, let's embrace the opportunities the Lord has placed
before us at every age.
As we do, let's consider these five spiritual practices as life-giving and age-defying moves we can make that help us truly get better and not just get older!
Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including VerseoftheDay.com, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with Interim Ministry Partners and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of VerseoftheDay.com, God's Holy Fire (on the Holy Spirit), and aYearwithJesus.com. Phil has also authored four books, daily devotionals on each of the four gospels. (Visit the Author's Website)
Heartlight Provides Positive
Resources for Daily Christian Living.
https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201701/20170131_agedsuperheroes.html
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