You're Not Old

Seriously, age may slow our steps, but we still have a calling.

We still have joy.

Elizabeth Elliot endured a storm or two.

Her husband, Jim Elliot, famous for writing the words, he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose, was killed while attempting to bring the gospel to the Wayodani tribe in Ecuador.

Despite the losses she suffered, when I spent time with Elizabeth, I discovered that she enjoyed a good laugh.

I told her about three elderly women who appeared in court together, each accusing the others of causing trouble in their apartment building.

The judge, with Solomon-like wisdom, announced, All right, ladies, I'll hear the oldest first.

And the case was closed for lack of evidence.

Elizabeth Laff then offered her perspective on aging.

She quoted George MacDonald, She believed our culture's obsession with youth causes us to resist an unavoidable gift.

We dye our hair, lift our faces, conceal our age, and imagine no one notices.

She said, She called growing older a wonderful privilege.

She said, Perhaps you're thinking, hey, I dye my hair.

I might too if I had some, but don't miss Elizabeth's point.

Aging is temporary.

Because of Jesus, she knew she would have a new body someday, a better one than she had ever known.

1 Corinthians 15 says these perishable bodies will be raised imperishable.

Through faith in the risen Jesus, we are assured that death will be swallowed up in victory.

Therefore, Paul says, we can stand firm and give ourselves fully to God's work, knowing that nothing done for him is wasted.

Maybe your mind now makes appointments your body can't keep.

Everything hurts and what doesn't hurt doesn't work.

You sit in a rocking chair, but you can't get it moving.

Your back goes out more than you do.

Your knees buckle, but your belt won't.

Your joints make the same noises as your coffee maker and require roughly the same warm-up time.