You're Not Dead? God Isn't Done With You!

“The golden years aren’t so golden.” or “Where is the gold in the golden years?” How often have you heard one or both of these comments? Have you said them? I’m guilty; shame on me. I asked for God’s forgiveness. Are you in the golden years and guilty too?

“O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth, and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grey-headed, O God, forsake me not, until I have shewed Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to everyone that is to come.” Psalm 71:17–18

Caleb stood on the mountain God promised him and declared his strength at eighty-five years old was the same as when Moses sent him out to spy on the land of Canaan forty years earlier. He was still God’s warrior, acting in and depending on God’s strength. Hebron became his inheritance as Moses promised because Caleb “wholly followed the Lord God of Israel” (Josh 14:6–14). God’s Word has promises for those who faithfully follow Him, and He, The Word, is faithful to deliver them. Paul, in his eighties, wrote his last letter from a Roman prison, addressing his spiritual son, Timothy. He knew his “departure was at hand” (2 Tim 4:6); he would die for proclaiming the Gospel but was ready for his eternal reward. Although facing death, the apostle urged and encouraged God’s minister to reproduce in the lives of others what he had received in Christ, that they would teach others (2:2). Paul's charge is not only to Timothy but to us also.

“So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

God is the giver of breath and life; we should not speak lightly of it, not even in jest. No matter our age, death and eternity await us all. We should seek God’s guidance and yield to the Holy Spirit’s leadership, living godly lives during our short stay on this side of heaven. If we're still breathing, God has plans for us and reasons for our being here. So, let’s use our time wisely. We may retire from job-related services but not from the Lord’s work He’s called us to until He calls us home.