The length of our days is seventy years --- or eighty, if we have the strength ( Ps 90:10a ). Although it is no longer uncommon to live to eighty, the majority of octogenarians are nevertheless relatively weak, feeble and fragile, as described in Ecclesiastes 12. Their days are numbered. Their thinking is rather negative, even pessimistic. Their life is no longer active and as interesting as before. The fact that they have a feeling of reaching the sunset of life, of approaching the end, and of having no more hope in their future is shown in their daily life.

Some, at this advanced age, may begin to write (or tell) their own memoirs. They may wish to review their glorious accomplishments, personal history, or contributions to society, with the idea of leaving their legacy for the benefit of future generations. No doubt, these individuals still live a life in the past, and dare not to face their own present situation. As a matter of fact, they have lost their strength to challenge the world, the time, etc. They have already stepped down from the stage of human life. Within their hearts, they may not quite be willing to accept this arrangement, but feel powerless to do anything about it. Naturally, a deep sense of emptiness and futility begins to overtake them.

Others may enjoy fishing, playing cards, drinking, gambling and so forth. They would try just about anything and everything to amuse themselves, to kill their time, or to anesthetize their feeling and conscience. Unfortunately, none of this is healthy nor works successfully. It is altogether the same --- meaningless, utterly meaningless.

We Christians should not be like this! Life is more precious in the old age than ever before, though it will soon come to an end. Actually we may consider that the sunset of life is really the golden age, the most beautiful part in our entire life. We should not let such precious life flee away silently from us. Rather, we should seize life with our two hands, and live every minute of it meaningfully. It is definitely possible that the older one becomes, the stronger and more ambitious he or she will be. What is wrong with old age? Nothing! Absolutely nothing is wrong with it.

When Moses died at the age of 120, his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone ( Deut 34:7 ). Why? Simply because he served the Lord faithfully and continued steadfastly to the end. Serving the Lord was the source of his energy, strength and the power for him to go on. In his daily life, whatever he did, thought and considered would be only for the Lord and for the nation of Israelites. He devoted himself, even his whole being, to the Lord. In him there was nothing called retirement, and there was nothing except serving the Lord, who was his environment, his living sphere, and his everything. It is the same principle as the famous testimony given by the American general McArthur that old soldiers never die. This is because in their mind there is nothing but loving their country, and serving their country. This kind of spirit and mind keeps them going on and on.

We also need to remember the verse "redeeming the time" (Eph 5:16; Col 4:5), and put it into practice. Time is more valuable than gold, especially in the old age. In fact, our life and breath are in God's hand. In other words, He gives us our allotted time to live. Therefore, we had better use our time wisely, properly, positively and rightly. We should be aggressively seeking every opportunity to love our Lord, and seizing each chance to serve Him. Do not leave the opportunity for next time or tomorrow, since it may not come to us again. Let us treasure and appreciate the time we have today, even now, no matter how old we are.

Psalm 103:5 tells us: "He satisfies the prime of your life (i.e. the strongest part of our life, which is our youth ), so that your youth is renewed like the eagle" (RecV). Certainly, we can experience His renewing us day by day, even at an advanced age. Also, Isa 40:31a " Yet those who wait on Jehovah will renew their strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles" (RecV) shows us how to serve and wait on Him so that we may be kept young. Praise Him for such encouraging, refreshing, nourishing and cherishing words.

As a brother over 70 years of age, I would like to testify that in these days I am very happy, full of vitality and energy, and feel just as a young man in my heart. The only reason for this is that the Lord is the source of my strength and the fountain of my joy. Day by day, He calls me, attracts me, strengths me and empowers me to love Him, pursue Him, serve Him, know Him and gain Him.

If we, at the great age, are determined to continue to serve the Lord faithfully and diligently toward the end of our life, there will be nothing to lose. With our sober mind, strong will and burning spirit, we shall be busy all day long and there will be no time to think about retirement, how to kill the time, and so on. Let's forget the things which are behind, stretch forward to the things which are before, and pursue toward the goal (Phil 3:13b, 14a).

Bro. Joseph