The God of Our Golden Years Psalm 71:9 (NKJV)

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Rodney Sims
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1 Message for THE LORD'S DAY EVENING, November 2, 2014 Christian Hope Church of Christ, Plymouth, North Carolina by Reggie A. Braziel, Minister TOPIC: Aging The God of Our Golden Years Psalm 71:9 (NKJV) Please turn with me in your Bibles to the 71 st Psalm in the Old Testament, and let's read VERSE 9. Psalm 71:9 (NKJV) Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails. P R A Y E R ************************************************************ Humorous Illustration 1 I N T R O D U C T I O N I've sure gotten old! I've had two bypass surgeries, a hip replacement, new knees, fought prostate cancer and diabetes. I'm half blind, can't hear anything quieter than a jet engine, take 40 different medications that make me dizzy, winded, and subject to blackouts. Have bouts with dementia. Have poor circulation; hardly feel my hands and feet anymore. Can't remember if I'm 85 or 92. And I have lost all my friends. But, thank the good LORD I still have my driver's license. But, Humorous Illustration 2 Two elderly women were talking one day. One told the other, I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, so my doctor recommended that I take an aerobics class for seniors at the fitness club. She said, I went for my first aerobics class the other day and I bent over, and I twisted, and I gyrated, and I jumped up and down, and by the time I got my leotards on the class was over.

2 Humorous Illustration 3 An elderly woman called her preacher to come over to her house one day to discuss her funeral arrangements. She said, Preacher, I have two final requests. First, I would like to be cremated. And second, I would like to have my ashes scattered over Wal- Mart. The puzzled preacher said, Why do you want your ashes to be spread over Wal-Mart? The elderly lady said, That way I know my daughters will come visit me twice a week. When it comes to growing old you have to keep a sense of humor don't you! Every single day over 6,500 Americans turn 65 years old. According to the most recent census there are almost 40 million Americans who are 65 years old or older, and by 2030 or about fifteen years from now that number is expected to increase to over 72 million. Within fifteen years, one out of every five Americans will be 65 years old or older; and one out of every eight Americans will be over 80 years old. Many of us can remember a time when we rarely heard of anyone living to be 100 years old. According to the U.S. Census Bureau there are currently over 55,000 Americans who are 100 years old or older. And that number is expected to grow to over 400,000 by What all this tells us is that many Americans are living longer than ever before in our nation's history. *********************************************************************

3 The Bible has a great deal to say about GROWING OLD and THE AGED, and for a few minutes this evening I would like for us to see what God's word has to say about this important subject. First of all, let's consider... I. THE PAINS of Growing Old 1. The wonderful thing about the Bible is that you can always depend on God's word to tell you the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. 2. The Bible tells us the truth about growing old, and that is it ain't no picnic! 3. Turn with me to Ecclesiastes 12:1-7. In this passage Solomon uses symbolic language to describe the aches and pains of growing old. Now I preached a sermon on this passage my first year here and in that message I explained what each of these symbolic phrases mean. That was over six years ago, and if you're like me you can't even remember what you had for lunch yesterday, so let me refresh your memory as to what these symbolic phrases mean as I read each verse.

4 ECCLESIASTES 12:1-7 (NKJV) 1 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, I have no pleasure in them : 2 While the sun and the light,the moon and the stars, are not darkened, (that's refers to our faces losing their brightness and glow we had in our youth.) and the clouds do not return after the rain; (that's talking about getting one illness after another as we age.) 3 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble,(that means as we age our arms grow weak) and the strong men bow down;(the strong men is referring to our legs and how they become more feeble) when the grinders cease because they are few, (the grinders of course is referring to our teeth. As we grow old we lose our grinders, we lose our teeth. ) and those that look through the windows grow dim; (that means as we age our eyesight grows worse) 4 When the doors are shut in the streets,(that's talking about losing our ability to hear) and the sound of grinding is low; (as we grow old our voice grows softer and we become harder to understand) when one rises up at the sound of a bird, (that means as we get older we have a harder time sleeping at night) and all the daughters of music are brought low. (sadly, as we grow old we can't sing with the same strength and exuberance we did in our youth) 5 Also they are afraid of height,(this is talking about one of the biggest fears of the elderly and that is falling.) and of terrors in the way; (most elderly fear being robbed or having their home broken into and not being able to protect themselves) when the almond tree blossoms,(the almond tree blossoms refers to the hair growing white or gray as we grow older) the grasshopper is a burden, (this refers to the slow movements of the elderly, they just sort of creep along like an insect) and desire fails. (this is referring to the loss of our physical appetite for intimacy and even for food. ) for man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets.

5 6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, (the silver cord refers to the spinal cord or back growing weak) or the golden bowl is broken,(the golden bowl refers to the brain or mind, and how we start losing our memory) or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,(that's telling us as we age our kidneys and bowels don't function as well) or the wheel broken at the well. (that means as we grow old our heart eventually gives out) 7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. 4. See what we've all got to look forward to? No, in all seriousness, the scriptures teach us this aging process, though painful, is a very natural process we all go through before we enter into our eternity. Secondly... II. THE PRECIOUS BLESSINGS of Growing Old 1. After hearing about all the aches and pains we can expect as we grow old, one would wonder WHAT,IF ANY BLESSINGS CAN THERE POSSIBLY BE IN GROWING OLD? 2. The Bible mentions several precious blessings we can look forward to as we grow old.

6 (A) The Blessing of OLD AGE Itself Proverbs 16:31 (NKJV) The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness. Sadly, many people don't live to a ripe old age. My own father only lived to be 58 years old. I have now lived one year longer than he did. If GOD has blessed you with seventy...eighty...or ninety years or more, you are truly blessed indeed. (B) The Blessing of TIME. ECCLESIASTES 3:1 (NKJV) To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Regardless of whether you are young or old, time is measured in the same increments. Sixty minutes equals one hour and twenty four hours equals one day. But when we are young so much of our time is consumed by work and raising a family and rushing through life at break neck speed. But as we grow older, TIME is the one thing we seem to have more than anything else. Its as if GOD uses old age to slow down our pace in life so we can appreciate things we didn't have time for when we were young like listening to birds sing and soaking in a beautiful sunset or sunrise, or taking more time to read our Bibles and spend more time in prayer. Yes, one of the wonderful blessings of growing old is THE BLESSING OF TIME.

7 (C) The Blessing of WISDOM JOB 12:12 (NKJV) Wisdom is with aged men, and with length of days, understanding. While it is true that our memory often starts to fade as we grow older, it is also true that our wisdom increases with age. Its as though GOD takes all of our trials and troubles and experiences in life and blesses us with keen insight and understanding with regards to matters of FAITH and FAMILY and FRIENDSHIPS and THE FUTURE. Those of you who are getting on up in years, don't ever believe you are no longer useful or that you no longer have a purpose here. GOD has brought you to that golden time of life when you have become a treasure trove of wisdom and insight for the rest of us. (D) The Blessing of HONOR Leviticus 19:32 (NKJV) You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your GOD: I am the LORD. WOW! Did you catch what Moses is saying? He is telling us we should rise when an elderly person comes into the room out of HONOR and RESPECT. When you think of how long an elderly saint has fought the good fight of faith and how long they have been running the race, they are deserving of our HONOR!

8 We have considered THE PAIN OF GROWING OLD and THE PRECIOUS BLESSINGS OF GROWING OLD. Finally, let's consider... III. THE PROMISE To Those Who Grow Old Turn with me to... ISAIAH 46:4 (NKJV) Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. 1. Elderly people have many fears. -They fear health problems. -They fear losing their independence. -They fear being left all alone. -They fear being moved out of their own home into a nursing home. -They fear the loss of loved ones. -They fear losing their usefulness and purpose in life. -They fear becoming a burden on loved ones. -And they often fear death. 2. Even godly elderly people are not immune to the anxieties and insecurities of growing old. 3. And that is what makes this beautiful promise in Isaiah 46:4 all the more wonderful.

9 4. In this verse, GOD is reminding us of the constancy of His love and care for us. He says, Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs, I will carry you. 5. Isn't it comforting to know that as we grow older GOD will never leave us or forsake us? God is declaring that He isn't just the GOD of the young Christian or the middle-aged Christian, He is the GOD of aged Christian also. From the CRADLE to the GRAVE, GOD is our GOD! 6. In MALACHI 3:6 (NKJV) God says, For I am the LORD, I do not change! As you think back over your life, can you ever remember a time when GOD did not love you? Can you ever remember a time when GOD didn't care for you? Can you ever recall a time when GOD failed you or didn't supply a need? Can you ever remember a time when GOD abandoned you? Then why fear that GOD will change in your old age?

10 7. When God says, And even to gray hairs, I will carry you, He is promising, I will continue to watch over you...i will continue to provide your every need... I will continue to protect you...and care for you... and look after you. 8. To every elderly child of GOD here tonight: When you lay your head on your pillow tonight, remember this PRECIOUS PROMISE of GOD! *********************************************************************** C O N C L U S I O N In his book The Best Is Yet To Be Henry Durbanville wrote, "I feel so sorry for folks who don't like to grow old...i revel in my years. They enrich me...i would not exchange...the abiding rest of soul, the measure of wisdom I have gained from the sweet and bitter and perplexing experiences of life; nor the confirmed faith I now have in the...love of God, for all the bright and uncertain hopes and tumultuous joys of youth. Indeed, I would not! These are the best years of my life...the way grows brighter; the birds sing sweeter; the winds blow softer; the sun shines more radiantly than ever before. I suppose 'my outward man' is perishing, but 'my inward man' is being joyously renewed day by day.

Remember God Before Its Too Late! Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8 (NKJV)

Remember God Before Its Too Late! Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8 (NKJV) Message for THE LORD'S DAY MORNING, November 29, 2015 Christian Hope Church of Christ, Plymouth, North Carolina by Reggie A. Braziel, Minister MESSAGE 19 in Ecclesiastes Series ( Finding Meaning In A Meaningless