Within the last ten minutes I have crossed paths, and had two brief conversations with, two elderly gentlemen who love the Lord.  They both are long-time members of our church and are a constant source of encouragement to me.  They have a heart for others, and the joy of the Lord is their strength.  Though one of them is approaching ninety and the other is well past ninety, they have a youthful zeal that many a fraction of their age lack.

What is their secret? ¬†Obviously the main one is that they both enjoy a close walk with the Lord. ¬†As I said, the joy of the Lord is their strength (Neh. 8:10). ¬†But more specifically, it can be said that they honestly believe (and rightly so) that the Lord has a purpose and plan for them to fulfill even as they are well into their twilight years. ¬†They are absolutely convinced that as long as they are alive, they have something further to contribute to the work of the kingdom. ¬†They are “not lagging in diligence” but are “fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11). ¬†As I spoke with these gentlemen, one was headed out with a handful of Gospel tracts to a nearby nursing home. ¬†The other was preparing to place inserts into two hundred and twenty bulletins in preparation for this Sunday’s worship service. ¬†

God tells us in His Word, “As thy days, so shall thy strength be” (Deut. 33:25). ¬†These men believe that and live accordingly!

This all fits very well with a blog I read on the Internet just two days ago. ¬†It was a blog written by Jay Adams, the “guru” of biblical counseling, who just turned eighty. ¬†He just started blogging … at eighty years old! ¬†Gotta love it!

Dr. Adams begins the blog with the following:

Eighty years old! ¬†I truly never thought I’d live this long. ¬†It makes me wonder what the Lord has in mind for me to do during the last few years that I have left. ¬†Surely, without some worthwhile project or projects, I’d dry up and blow away. ¬†Whether writing these blogs is or is not a worthwhile activity I shall find out in time. ¬†For the moment, in addition to teaching at my church, this is my major activity.

I find it interesting how Dr. Adams acknowledges the need to have something worthwhile to occupy his time and energy. ¬†He goes on to speak about the physical limitations that he has as an older person. ¬†He can’t walk as well or hear as well. ¬†He can still drive but would prefer not to. ¬†He thanks the Lord that his mental faculties are still intact. ¬†He then goes on to say:

Let me stop right there, because in addition to the two fine men I interacted with this morning, there are several other godly people in our congregation who are infirm and laid up in bed. ¬†But they are some of the greatest prayer warriors I know. ¬†Thus their contributions to the body of Christ and the advancement of His kingdom are beyond our ability to estimate. ¬†They are a vital part of the work that God is doing in this generation because of their positive, God-oriented outlook. ¬†They think the way that Dr. Adam’s thinks at this stage of his life, asking the same sort of questions that he asks in the closing paragraph of his blog:

What is next to do? ¬†To learn? ¬†To experience? ¬†That orientation, I think, has kept me current as I can be – given my physical limitations. ¬†Inwardly, I don’t think of myself as old. ¬†I just think, “Here’s another day – what shall I make of it? ¬†How shall I use it to honor God, and how can I be a blessing to someone else?” ¬†So long as I can continue that orientation, I think I’ll be able to carry on reasonably well for another few years. ¬†If God wills. ¬†We’re all immortal until God is through with us. . . .

Amen, Dr. Adams.  May your tribe increase!