Successful Aging

Psalm 92:12-14:"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. 
They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green
..."  (Psalm 92:12-14)

Introduction

Everyone is growing older
We are growing older
One day we look in the mirror and notice that our hair is thinner and grayer.
Our skin is starting to wrinkle, our shoulders are starting to stoop, our flesh is starting to sag,...
our joints are starting to creak, and reality is starting to sink in: we're not so young anymore.
We work hard to build a healthy body, learn a good job or profession, we were on top of things... and then,
the whole body slowly falls to pieces.
Our physical strength tends to decline, our legs can't run fast, our senses tend to dimish,
... mental abilities, including recent memory, slow down with age

Life is always full of problems, and even more so in the older years.
It should be just the opposite, because we have had an entire life to get ready.
We are growing older.
An article by Ann Landers described growing older like this: "Man is like an automobile.
As it gets older, the differential starts slipping, and the u-joints get worn, causing the drive shaft to go bad.
The transmission won't go into high gear and sometimes has difficulty getting out of low.
The cylinders get worn and lose compression, making it hard to climb the slightest incline.
When it is climbing, the tappets clatter and ping to the point where one wonders if the old bus
will make it to the top.

The carburetor gets fouled with pollutants and other matter, making it hard to get started in the morning.
It is hard to keep the radiator filled because of the leaking hose.
The thermostat goes out, making it difficult to reach operating temperature.
The headlights grow dim, and the horn gets weaker.

The memory chip drops a few bytes, and the battery needs constant recharging.
But if the body looks good with no bangs, dents or chipping paint, we can keep it washed and polished,
giving the impression that it can compete with the newer models and make one more trip
down the primrose lane before the head gasket blows."
-- Pinging Like Crazy in Tulsa, in Ann Landers, Spokesman Review, December 24, 1993, p. D2

To be successful in growing older should be the goal of every senior adult.
I believe that we can, if we stay young, stay active, and stay ready.

Stay Young

(1) Stay young by keeping your sense of humor
To be successful as we grow older we can stay young by keeping a good sense of humor.
For instance forgetting is far more familiar, and far less amusing, as we grow older.
That doesn't mean that we can't laugh about it among ourselves.

For instance, listen to the words of these lines that was sent inside a birthday card.
It's called "From One Senior Citizen to Another." Here's a few lines:
"Sometimes I can't remember
As I stand at the foot of the stairs,
If I'm going up for something
Or I've just come down from there.
The ending is the best part.
P.S. Here I stand beside the mailbox
With my face so very red
Instead of mailing you my letter
I have opened it instead."

Have you even been so tired that you couldn't put one foot in front of the other?
A woman was constantly exhausted, so her doctor asked about her activities.
She said, "Oh, I have a very rigorous exercise program.
On Monday, I beat around the bush, jump to conclusions, climb the walls, and wade through the morning paper.
Tuesday, I drag my heels, push my luck, and make mountains out of molehills.
Wednesday, I bend over backwards, jump on the bandwagon, and run around in circles.
Thursday, I toot my own horn, pull out all the stops, and add fuel to the fire.
Friday, I open a can of worms, put my foot in my mouth, start the ball rolling, and go over the edge.
Saturday, I pick up the pieces.
And on Sunday, I kneel in prayer, bow my head in thanksgiving, and lift my hands in praise
."

(2) Stay young by keeping a positive attitude
To be successful as we grow older we can stay young by keeping a positive attitude.
We do well to maintain the positive attitude of an anonymous person who said.
"There's nothing whatever the matter with me,
I'm just as healthy as I can be.
I have arthritis in both knees
And when I talk I speak with a wheeze.
My pulse is weak and my blood is thin
But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in."

It's never too late to change or alter one's course in life.
It's never too late for the old to dream dreams and the young to see visions!
A poem by H. S. Fritch, entitled "How Old Are You?" makes this point clear.
"Age is a quality of mind.
If you have left your dreams behind,
If hope is cold, If you no longer look ahead,
If your ambitions' fires are dead, Then you are old.
But if from life you take the best,
And if in life you keep the jest,
If love you hold, No matter how the years go by,
No matter how the birthdays fly, You are not old."

We are old when we think we are.

If we focus on the bad in our life, and on all the negatives that are there.
If we focus on how far short other people have fallen from our expectations, then we will become
a grumpy, onery, resentful, bitter person who will not only grow old, but will become old.
But if we focus on all that God is doing in our life, then no matter how difficult our circumstances,
no matter how old we are chronologically, we will stay young.

The late George Vanier, Governor-General of Canada, once said: "People do not really age
by living a number of years.
I am convinced that we grow old only by deserting our ideals.
We are, in fact, as old as our doubts and despair...we are as young as our faith and hope
."
And this is from a man who became Governor-General of Canada at the age of seventy-one!

II. Stay Active

To be successful as we grow older we can stay young by staying active.
Old age is a time to slow down, but not to stop.
Retirement can become a new opportunity for us to pursue the dreams that we were denied in our youth.
So often, because of life's circumstances we are forced into careers and occupations
that we do not enjoy.
Yet in the retirement years, we have the time and opportunity to pursue those dreams
of our busy, younger years.

(1) Stay active by continuing to serve
As we grow older we can stay young by continuing to serve.
"They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.." (Psalms 92:14)
All of us have something to contribute.
All of us have abilities and skills beyond our occupation, whether we're currently working or retired.
In the time we have left, we can contribute something positive to the world around us that will continue
to bless others when we are no longer here.
That is successful aging

As Christians, we do not need degrees in medical science, psychology, sociology, or even in theology,
to be used of God.
This is true regardless of our age, health or status in society.
We do need to live humble, obedient lives, and we must seek and follow God's will for our lives.
This is our mission, our responsibility, and our privilege.
We must pray that we would be used by Him!

John Wesley preached every day even though he was 89.
His prayer was, "Lord don't let me live to be useless."

Over the years I've done a lot of funerals.
It's very sad when all that can be said about a person is that they loved to play golf, or hunt,
and had a great sense of humor.
For a believer, that is a wasted life.

Living a useful life pleases God and will bless others.
Nothing good ever comes from idleness or selfishness.
Standing water stagnates and breeds decay and death.
It is the running stream that keeps life pure and sweet.

When we live to bless others, we will have many grateful and loving friends, and their affections
will provide a wondrous source of joy when we experience our declining days.
There is no retirement program for the believer on this earth.
Our retirement program is heaven.
As we near our later years God may have even greater work and responsibilities for us to accomplish.

(2) Stay active by continuing to grow
To be successful as we grow older we must continue to grow.
"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. 
They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.
.."  (Psalm 92:12-14)
In old age we can remain vital and alive because of God's influence in our lives.

Growing older gives us the opportunity to grow beyond the limited vision of youth, and to grow
into full maturity as a child of God.
For, while our bodies may decline, our spirit can increase in strength and purpose.
We know that we are growing spiritually:

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow lost his first wife when they were in Holland.
His second wife died in a fire in their home.
When he was an old man, someone once asked him,
"How can you continue to write so beautifully and remain so vigorous?"

Longfellow just pointed to an apple tree that was blossoming and said,
"That apple tree grows a little new wood every year, and from the new wood the blossoms come.
I guess
," he said, "like the apple tree, I like to grow a little new wood every year."

While we're here on earth, we must get ready for heaven by growing spiritually and should
become more more like Christ.

III. Stay Ready

To be successful as we grow older we must stay ready for eternity

(1) We should stay ready because this world is not our home
God's word reminds us Phillipians 3:20, that our citizenship, is not in this world.
Our true citizenship is in heaven.
As Christians, we are pioneers.
A pioneer is never settled.
We are always moving on because this world is not our home.
We are always heading toward our heavenly destination.
We are just passing through.

But many Christians act like homesteaders.
Many have invested themselves heavily in this world, and they have almost forgotten
where their real home is located.
If you are a Christian, it is not here.
We are aliens. Our stay here is only temporary.
You and I must remember that this world is not all there is for us.

Many of you have been out of the country and you remember flying home.
You remember the words over the intercom:
" Please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened until the plane comes to a complete stop,"
and no one is paying attention.
The wheels of the plane hit the runway, and seatbelts were being unfastened.
People were already out of their seats, opening the overhead compartments, getting their luggage.
They are home.

Their final destination was not that plane.
They wanted to get off that plane, and meet those they love -- they are home!
None of the stewardesses had to pull people out of their seats, and have people say,
" I want to stay on the plane for a few more hours. The food is really good.
I really want to stay on the plane.
"
Oh, No. They were home.
They wanted to get off of that plane.

Why then, as Christians, hold so tight to this old world?
This is not our true home.

(2) Stay ready because we don't know when the Lord will call us home.
To be successful as we grow older we can stay ready because we don't know
when the Lord will call us home.
The fact is, you and I are not going to be here long.
We're moving to an eternal home.

So, how much thought have you given to your ultimate destination?
Are you getting ready for that last journey?
Are you thinking about that or have you put down your stake so deep in this world, that you're not
thinking about the next?

When John Quincy Adams was well into the older years of his life, when he met
a young friend on the street.
The young friend asked, "How is John Quincy Adams today?"
Adams replied: "John Quincy Adams is very well, thank you.
But the house he lives in is sadly dilapidated.
It is tottering on its foundations.
The walls are badly shattered and the roof is worn.
The building trembles with every wind, and I think John Quincy Adams will have to move out before long.
But he himself is very well, thank you
" .

Stuart Hamblen's song captures that spirit in his song:
"This ole house is a-gettin' shaky, this ole house is a-gettin' old;
This ole house lets in the rain, this ole house lets in the cold.
Oh, my knees are a-gettin' shaky, but I feel no fear nor pain,
'Cause I see an angel peekin' through a broken windowpane.

This ole house is afraid of thunder, this ole house is afraid of storms;
This ole house just groans and trembles when the night wind flings its arms.
This ole house is gettin' feeble, this old house is needin' paint;
Just like me it's tuckered out, but I'm a-gettin' ready to meet the saints."

Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer,
Ain't a-gonna need this house no more;
Ain't got time to fix the shingles, ain't got time to fix the floor,
Ain't got time to oil the hinges nor to mend the win-dow pane;
Ain't gonna need this house no longer -
I'm a-gettin' ready to meet the saints."

Are you ready to meet the saints?


Conclusion

Are you ready to meet God?

Our life -- our time we have left on this earth is in God's hands.
We cannot say when we are going to die or be afflicted by some crippling disease.

Jesus saved you for a purpose.
God is calling you to step up to your responsibility. God is ready to do amazing things in your life, and in this church.
But you must consecrate yourself.
If you want to end well, you must make some tough choices.
You must choose between focusing on this temporary life or focusing on eternity.
You must choose!
Will your life count?
Will you invest in eternity?
Will you pour yourself in to something bigger than yourself?

"Only one life will soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last!"

Are you encouraging others to follow the Lord?
Do you seek to inspire them to follow the Lord more fully?
It's so sad when older saints are discouragers, rather than encouragers?

"Shall we sit idly down and say,
The night hath come; it is no longer day?
The night hath not yet come; we are not quite
Cut off from labor by the failing light;
Something remains for us to do or dare;
Even the oldest tree some fruit may bear."
-- Henry W. Longfellow

Are you content to do the minimum in your service to God? 
Are you content to just sit back and watch others work? 
Are you always looking for the easy way out in your Christian service? 
Or am you asking God to give you His most challenging mission?

God use me!  Here I am.. I'm ready...

A relationship with God can transform your life and carry you through even the worst problems of old age.
If you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and Friend, you will never be alone.
Jesus is the best friend you could ever have!

Sermon by Dr. Harold L. White
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