“TODAY ALMOST EVERYONE WILL REACH WHAT ONCE WAS CALLED, ‘OLD AGE.’ HOWEVER, THE QUESTION IS IN WHAT GROUP OF SENIORS WILL YOU BE FOUND? WILL IT BE THE ‘BACKWARD’ GROUP, THE ‘BITTER’ GROUP, OR THE ‘BLESSED’ GROUP?”

 I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about it…

…An old Quaker who reached the age of 82 once remarked: “I am going to live till I die, and then…I’m going to live forever!” Those are appropriate words for someone who knows the future and what it holds for them. However, today many people are living longer and remaining healthier in the latter years of life than ever before. Although this is more true in the Western world, as a whole all across the planet the world's population has continued on its remarkable transition path from a state of high birth and death rates to one characterized by low birth and low death rates. At the heart of that transition has been the growth in the number and proportion of older persons living. Such a rapid, and large growth has never been seen in the history of civilization, except in the days of Noah of old. So today I want to talk about aging in the 21^st century and those illustrious folks we now call, “Senior Saints.” But before I begin, let’s pause one more time for another moment of music. Then I’ll return with today’s message ¾

THE SUNSET YEARS, stay tuned…

… Today statistics on aging present for most seniors, a glorious future. We learn that,

1.      One out of every ten persons is now 60 years or above; by 2050, one out of five will be 60 years or older; and by 2150, one out of three persons will be 60 years or older.

2.      The eldest population itself is aging too. The oldest old (80 years or older) is the fastest growing segment of the elder population. They currently make up 11 percent of the 60+ age group and will grow to 19 percent by 2050. The number of centenarians (aged 100 years or older) is projected to increase 15-fold from approximately 145,000 in 1999 to 2.2 million by 2050.

3.      The majority of elderly persons (55 percent) are women. Among the oldest old, 65 percent are women.

4.      The majority of the world's older persons (51 percent) live in urban areas. By 2025 this is expected to climb to 62 percent of older persons.

5.      Over the last half of the 20^th century, 20 years were added to the average lifespan, bringing global life expectancy to its current level of 66 years. Large differences exist between countries, however. In the least developed regions, men reaching age 60 can expect only 14 more years of life and women, 16 more, while in the more developed regions, life expectancy at age 60 is 18 years for men and 22 years for women. 1

 Clearly, mankind through technology and medical advances, has been given upwards of 15-20 years more life expectancy than every before.

Now those who attain “old age” usually fall into three categories. The first group we’ll call

(1)   THE “BACKWARD” GROUP.

The people in this group, unfortunately are the youngest generation of oldsters, the aging “yuppies” who all their lives made the cultural values of youth, vitality, competitiveness, and self-sufficiency the center of their life and being. But as old age arrives for them, as it has now for millions in the United States , many are not willing to accept it. So what do they do? Well, they deny it and pretend they are not old. They are in effect ashamed of it and pretend old age has not really overcome them. Some dress like they were teenagers, other whip their bodies through fierce training to look like 20-30 year olds, some go through medical operations to replace lost hair, cut away wrinkles, sharpen eye sight and other cosmetic surgeries ¾ all attempting to deny the normal aging process and what it brings them.

Then there is a second group we’ll call,

(2)   THE “BITTER” GROUP.

This group of aging adults, also do not take the process well. Many feel life has passed them by, the best is not yet to come, and they become very bitter. Because they are unhappy, unfulfilled, and dissatisfied, they become very cranky, petulant, and arrogant toward those around them. Always complaining, and criticizing everyone and everything, they often withdraw into their own world, only to be alone in heart, mind and fellowship, only to often die a lonely death when it comes. How sad. But then there is the last group, which I’ll call,

(3)   the BLESSED GROUP.

This group is composed of those who joyfully accept old age and consider it the “prime years” of life. They take hold of who they are, at the age they’ve become, and accept it with relish and vigor. They believe these years to be a special gift from God, and to be used to glorify and honor Him.  Of course, such folks only come in one variety ¾ those who have become born-again Christians, who have yielded and surrendered their lives and hearts to love and serve Jesus Christ!

Now I say that, because not all senior saints in the church of Jesus Christ are in this latter, “Blessed Group.” There are some who enter the unsaved “Bitter Group,” for they have not really surrendered their lives to Christ as others. Rather, they have held on to portions of it, only to find that what Jesus said is true,

Mat 16:25 (NIV)  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

The Bible says our very lives and existence are a gift from God, and given to us for one very purpose ¾ that we would return them as a gift to our Creator God (Prov. 23:26 ). In so doing, God tells us that we shall find the fullest and greatest satisfaction. So when we grow old, if we have given “all” of our lives back to God, whatever life brings will always a blessing and gift. But for those who have not fully surrendered their lives, when old age comes bitterness easily creeps in. Why? Well, many have not reached their anticipated goals, or received what they thought life should bring to them. Still others who lose mates, children, or never have the joy of grandchildren can easily become angry with God. They then take it out on all those around them and become bitter people. Not so the “blessed group,” for there is nothing to lose that is theirs. Everything around them is a gift from God, and they relish it all, as the grace of God in their lives.

Julia Ward Howe once said, “All the sugar is always at the bottom of the cup.” I believe she was right. God planned that the latter years of our lives, if given back to God through acceptance of Jesus Christ and surrender to Him, can be the most satisfying and blessed years of our lives. Just think back how many people became most successful and did the most enduring things in old age.

Michelangelo at age 66 was appointed chief architect of St. Peter’s in Rome and held that office till he was 89 years old. Think of the beautiful paintings he produced in his senior years. Then we think of Thomas Edison who gave us some of his greatest inventions between ages 70-80 years of life. Someone has rightly said. “Old age is the autumn years of life.”  We can make it beautiful as the golden colorful leaves of such a period, or we can make it dull, cheerless like the dead leaves of winter.

Now what does the Bible say about “old age?” Amazingly quite a bit. God Himself tells us one of His identifying Names refers to old age,

Dan 7:9 (NIV)  "As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

Again we discover God has something to say about the aging of humanity,

Prov 16:31 (NIV)  “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.”

Psa 92:12,14 (NIV)  “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon… 14They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,”

Isn’t it wonderful that God has made plans for us when we grow old? Indeed He has. God knows the aging process that sin has brought into the world. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden God said, “Surely you will die.” That process takes time, but everyone grows old and soon death takes their life. I’m of that generation that is now considered “Senior Saints.” Yes, our bodies do not look like there are twenty years old anymore. Our hair thins or for many falls out. Our teeth decay, become brittle, fall out or crack. Our eyes grown dim and faint; Our flesh turns wrinkly and sagging, and our strength wanes and even our minds become quite forgetful. We call these periods of forgetfulness, “senior moments,” which come more frequently as age develops. Yet in all these things, rather than fearing the onset of old age, one must relish it and the crowning glory of the years, God has given us. Paul the apostle told us,

2 Cor 4:16 (NIV)  Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

You see the real you and me is not our physical bodies. John Quincy Adams had the right perspective. He once said to a friend who asked him, “ How is John Quincy Adams ?” Adams replied:” John Quincy Adams himself is very well, thank you; but, the house he lives in is sadly dilapidated… the building trembles with every wind, and I think John Quincy Adams will have to move out of it before very long, but he himself is well.” Yes indeed, President Adams of the past knew that he was more than a body. He was and is a soul and spirit created in the image of God, as are all of us. The question is, is the real you inside that body which is aging and dying, being maintained and healthy?

Rather than making your life’s goal to mainly keep up the body in old age, as we certainly should pay some attention to it, God wants us to realize we have more at stake than losing our bodies in death. Jesus said,

Mat 10:28 (NIV)  Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

God is the God of old age. Wonderfully, God knows all about the fact that you and I, we are growing older and one day will face death. Perhaps one of the most comforting verses of Scripture that I relish and thank God for is found in,

Isa 46:4 (NIV)  Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

For the believer in Jesus Christ today, the same promise is ours. Our Creator God says when you give your life back to Me; when you offer it as a gift to my Son Jesus Christ who died for you, I will give back my everlasting love and care for you. Indeed, as we grow older and the pains and suffering of old age come upon us, we have the joy to know God will never leave us or forsake us, and He will be with us till the moment of our home going to Heaven where we will be in the perfect presence of God for all eternity. Listen to God’s Word on this matter,

John 3:36 (NIV)  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

1 John 3:2 (NIV)  Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

1 John 3:14 (NIV)  We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

God warns us that the best in life is yet to come. It can begin in old age, if we are genuinely yielded to Jesus Christ, if we’ve accepted Him as our personal Savior and Lord and “if” we’ve truly surrendered everything to Him… This is why Solomon wrote wisely,

Prov 16:31 (NIV)  “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.”

The phrase “gray hair,” is a reference to old age, and God says in His Word the splendor is not in our outward appearance, but in our very soul and spirit as it is worked out in our lives. Have you ever noticed in the church those in the “senior saints” group who are the sweetest, are always those who are fully yielded to Christ? Have you noticed by comparison those in the Church who are chronic whiners, embittered, always complaining and faultfinding, are those who have not yet yielded some necessary area of their lives to Christ? They hold tenaciously to it, even when the dreams and aspirations of life are gone. In a sense, they blame God for not achieving or receiving them. For them the splendor of old age is lost, and the beauty God intended for their lives is as well.

May I remind you of this important truth? It is so important that we all ‘end well.’ It is my own personal goal that the latter years of my life be the best. Oh yes, I know they will be filled with more difficulty in the flesh, but I can go through it well, with Jesus by my side. God said to Joshua the mighty servant of God for Israel ,

Josh 13:1 (NIV)  When Joshua was old and well advanced in years, the LORD said to him, "You are very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.

God knew and watched Joshua grow old. He no longer expected Him to do what he did in his younger years. God wanted Joshua to enjoy those years with Him, growing into God’s likeness, experiencing His fellowship and intimate communion ¾ that is getting ready for Heaven and eternal life that God’s gives to those who surrender to Him through His Son Jesus Christ.

 As we grow older, we all must look forward to Heaven and eternal life. The question is do you have it? The Bible says,

1 John 5:13 (NNAS)  “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Acts 16:31 (NNAS)  “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.””

John 6:47 (NNAS)  “”Truly, truly, I [Jesus] say to you, he who believes [on Me] has eternal life.”

In the mad quest for all the benefits of this fallen world and life, for many it’s hard to get excited about Heaven and eternity. Most senior saints in the Western world today, are the wealthiest group of people in the world. From owning summer homes, to huge motor homes, the older generation is profusely spending its wealth with the godless adage: “Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.”

But the Bible says, my friend, that is not all there is to life! There is life after old age; a life more abundant; a life of great vim and vigor; a life that will bring the most challenging, exciting, and beautiful days of your very existence. However, it will only come to those who in this life, BEFORE they die, who put their trust alone in Jesus Christ for Heaven, eternal life, and full and forever forgiveness of their sins. Say friend, do you know Jesus Christ personally? Have you met Him along life’s way? Have you given yourself back to God, through Jesus Christ? Have you offered up ALL of your life, your dreams, aspirations, hopes and said: “Lord Jesus take all that I have or ever wanted to have, and use it for your glory.” When you do that, the words of Jesus will come true and old age, while we await the glory of eternity, will be the sweetest yet,

Mat 16:25 (NNAS)  “”For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

The old Quaker was right, ““I am going to live till I die, and then…I’m going to live forever!” May God so grant you in old age, the sweetest disposition, the greatest hope, and anticipation that the best is yet to come.  Now, may God grant you that your sunset years will truly be the most fulfilled and satisfying ever through your continued surrender and commitment to Jesus Christ our Lord God, Savior and Creator of the world.

Rev 4:11 (NNAS)  “”Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.””

...The goal for many today is to stretch life out as long as possible and get the gusto out of it. But really the goal for us all, is to be sure we are in a right relationship to God through Jesus Christ. Then in our “old age” we will be found, fully surrendered to Him and serving Him in whatever capacity we are able. Friend, God understands our old age, our infirmities, inabilities, and even our deep desire to do all to please Him. He will surely make our senior saints, ones whose age is the splendor of life.

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1 Source: Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations Secretariat

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·         Radio talk #0206

·         Broadcast date: January 8, 2006

·         Speaker: Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator

·         Program: The World, the Word & You! Radio Broadcast

·         Address: P.O. Box 60033 Grand Junction, CO 81506

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The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 25 years, and serves as General Director.

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