A Biblical perspective on old age 

 ‘I never want to grow old!’ I sometimes hear people say. Perhaps you have said it yourself. But here is a dilemma: we neither want to die young, nor do we not relish the prospect of growing old. Some try to hide the signs of advancing years in the hope that young looks and even young ways will stave off the inevitable, but it is all in vain! We cannot stop the process. Is it really something to dread? We have to acknowledge that it is a kind of evil. Decay of the body is one of the results of the curse. It veils the glory of man as created in God’s image, as our strength fails and our faculties weaken. How unlike the immortal, unchanging God we are now! It brings many burdens and fears. Yet the Lord gives great consolations and can transform this condemnation into a coronation. The sky is often most beautiful at sunset and fruit is sweetest when fully ripe. So also the silver-haired head may be a crown of glory (Proverbs 16:31). The splendour of old age 

The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendour of old men is their grey head (Proverbs 20:29). Generally speaking the young have physical energy and vigour and the elderly have an accumulation of wisdom and experience. They may not be able to keep up with the speed of change in our fast moving world, but they can be well worth listening to! 

Our society may have little respect for the elderly, but God places a special honour on them. You shall rise before the grey headed and honour the presence of an old man, and fear your God; I am the Lord (Leviticus 19:32). Is this how we regard our older church members? Paul pleads the authority of old age when appealing to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus (Philemon 9). Solomon counsels us to listen to the older generation (Proverbs 23:22). If only his son, Rehoboam, had heeded this advice when he came to the throne (1 Kings 12)! 

The grey head speaks of a long journey of life. Many elderly Christians can testify of the faithfulness, sustaining love and unfailing grace of God to them and they in turn are ennobled by their faithfulness to him over many years. They are honoured veterans in the Lord’s army, many of whom have fought the good fight of faith with courage by his grace. Even if the mind degenerates and can no longer give studied counsel, that cannot erase the past. I remember meeting an elderly man whose mind was by then confused and simple, yet who had once pastored the church where I am now, and is still remembered with warm respect by locals here 70 years on! We should not be too idealistic though: not every young man is strong and not every silver-haired head is a crown of glory. There is a condition: if it is found in the way of righteousness (Proverbs 16:31). A crabbed character or stubborn pride can remove the crown. But how splendid is the elderly person shining with Christian grace! 

The strength of old age 

With advancing years come the frustrations of physical weakness and decaying mental powers. Our sporting days are long since past. Aches and pains, or worse, come upon us and exertions quickly wear us out. Life becomes a struggle. The hills seem steeper and burdens heavier. Our outward man is indeed perishing but our spiritual life need not be in decay. Paul’s experience was that his inward man was being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16). This is surely what counts most with God. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his mercy (Psalm 147:10,11). We may wish we could be more active, but the Lord delights in spiritual vigour, in a faith that endures, a love that grows deeper, a greater vision for his work and a hope that glows brighter. He himself is the one who gives this continual spiritual rejuvenation as we wait on him (Isaiah 40:29-31). Thomas Guthrie said in his older years, ‘The knees are weak, but that is not me. The brow is wrinkled, but that is not me. This is the house I live in; but I am young, younger than I ever was before.’ Abraham, Moses, Abraham, Anna (Luke 2:36-38) were all spiritually vigorous in old age and we can be too. It is this strength, too, by which the Lord upholds us through the trials of old age. These trials are many and varied: severe illness, the burden of caring for our life’s partner in their infirmity, the grief of widowhood, the trauma of having to leave our home for residential care. The Psalmist prayed, Do not cast me off in the time of my old age (Psalm 71:9). Do you fear the future? The Lord promises to carry you through (Isaiah 46:4). The satisfaction of old age 

Being elderly means being at the tail end of life. We have lived our lives. The opportunities, ambitions and pleasures of youth are over; the children and maybe even the grandchildren, have grown up and gone their way; each day is much the same as the last. We may look out of the window and envy others living life to the full. Where is our joy and satisfaction then? 

When all else had gone, Habakkuk could say, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation (3:17-19). When there is little else left to rejoice in, we still have the greatest thing. We have the Lord, our Saviour. In youth we may have set too much value on earthly things, but old age is a time to reflect on how much more precious he is. To know him is to have all! 

The solace of old age

Our journey is coming to an end and soon we must cross the river of death. Although some enjoy great peace, others are troubled and fearful. We may be distressed by the sins of our youth (Psalm 25:7) or by doubt. The devil may have his last go at us.

Christ is our refuge and solace. Turn your eyes from yourself to him. We are accepted because of his merits, not ours. His blood cleanses us from all sin. He is the risen, powerful and faithful Saviour, who will not let anyone down who trusts in him.

If you are in Christ, what a joyful and happy prospect is yours! Christ is waiting to receive you that you may be with him, which is far better.

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