2 of 2

Faith says in one ear, "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you" (Rom. 8:11). That verse need not apply only to our future resurrection. It can also suggest that even the closing years of our mortal life can be infused with special energy from God's Spirit.

Hope says in the other ear, "Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory" (Rom. 5:2, NLT). If faith brings the future into the present, giving "substance to our hopes" (Heb. 11:1, NEB), then hope gives the present the assurance of a glorious future.

In the meantime, the people of God-the church-can do a wonderful thing for those in their midst who are of advanced years. It can counter today's tendency to diminish and devalue the aged. I think of this when I read one of my favorite chapters in the Old Testament at the present, Leviticus 19. It sets forth a summary of how God's chosen people were to live out his holiness in community, and one verse says, "Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly, and revere your God. I am the Lord" (Lev. 19:32).

Don Bastian is a writer living in Ontario, Canada.

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

More Christianity Today articles on aging include:

The Visit | An almost clichéd form of Christian service to the elderly remains one of the most vital. (Sept. 10, 2004)

Gray Power | Christian-friendly senior organizations challenge AARP. (May 20, 2004)

God-honoring Retirement | Two well-known gurus of biblical finance team up for a one-two punch on building a God-honoring financial portfolio. (Feb. 19, 2004)

The Dick Staub Interview: A Gerontologist Gets Older | David Petty, author of Aging Gracefully, has long taught about the process of aging. Now, he is personally learning that one of the most important aspects is the spiritual side. (July 29, 2003)

What Your Retirement Planner Doesn't Tell You | Save in order to give your life away, not to retire comfortably. (March 6, 2000)

Thanksgiving at Fair Acres | A meal with my mother and other nursing-home residents opened a small crack in their stony detachment, and gave a brief glimpse of the kingdom of heaven. (Nov. 17, 2000)

More articles from Christianity Today sister publications:

Have I Become Useless? | What does a man my age have to offer the trend-setting generation? (July 1, 2004, Leadership Journal)

What Shall We Do with Mother? | Poll your friends over fifty. Most of them are already wrestling with this question. (Books & Culture, Jul/Aug 1999)

Grave Matters | I shouldn't have let my parents talk to those funeral salesmen unchaperoned. (Books & Culture, Mar/Apr 1999)

first page |  2 of 2

share this page

January 2006, Vol. 50, No. 1