From Wrinkles To Wisdom

HOW ARE YOU DEALING WITH AGING?

What’s the quality of your aging? Are you growing in wisdom—or just growing old? Are you getting better? Closer to God? What have you learned? How are you changing?

If I’m honest, I love aging.

I love the success it has brought. I love the deeper relationship I now have with God and people. I love being able to share what I’ve learned.

I make fewer mistakes and I crave sin less than I used to. No, I’m not perfect, I’m still very much a sinner. In fact, I’m sometimes surprised by what I still think and feel at age 67.

But thinking and feeling is one thing—acting on it is another.

I remember when King David aged.

“There was war between the Philistines and Israel. David and his men went out to fight the Philistines, but David became tired.” (‭2 Samuel‬ ‭21‬:‭15‬ ‭NCV‬‬)

David had walked a long, hard road. He had sinned greatly. Yet God still called him this:

“God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse. He is the kind of man I want, one who will do all I want him to do.’” (Acts 13:22 NCV)

David wasn’t sinless, but he was surrendered. And that’s what God still wants in aging hearts.

The reality of aging is this: we’re moving closer to the day we leave this earth.

Some people focus more on clinging to youth than preparing for eternity. Some are still more in love with the world than with God.

“Whoever loves the world does not have the Father’s love in him.” (1 John 2:15 NCV)

Some are still keeping a running list of people they refuse to forgive instead of obeying: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Matthew 22:39 NCV)

And many love themselves more than they love God.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” (Mark 12:30 NCV)

So where are you in the process of aging?

Yes, the body will get sore. Arthritis may show up. A terminal disease may even come. We all will die. The bigger question is, are you preparing for what comes next?

Because at the end of this life, we leave.

And when we do, our destination will either be Heaven, through believing, accepting, loving, and following Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior - or it will be Hell, a place of eternal separation and agony.

That’s the truth. The beautiful part? It’s your choice.

We will age.

We will die.

And we will decide.

HOLY SPIRIT, please lead us to the Father. Lead us to Jesus. And help us follow You all the way home. IJNIP amen ♥️