Rev. David Holwick ZP
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
December 6, 1992
Luke 1:5-20
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I. Is Christmas only for the young?
A. Christmas has a young flavor to it.
1) Joseph and Mary both young, with a little baby.
2) Kids star in all the pageants and get the presents.
B. Old people have a place, too.
1) Zechariah and Elizabeth well along in years.
2) No hope for a child.
3) Prayed, but didn't expect answers.
4) God had other ideas, beyond their expectations.
II. We have very limited expectations about old age.
A. We don't look forward to getting old.
1) Every year you can do less, look worse.
2) Elderly are expected to step aside and make way for the young.
3) America values productiveness; the old aren't productive,
so must be in the way.
B. Even churches express this mindset.
1) Churches: "The youth are the future of the church."
2) Old folks can have a future, too! Just ask Zechariah.
C. Instances occur in OT as well.
1) Wisdom of old was mocked. 1 Kings 12:6-14; Job 32:4-10
2) Sometimes old were neglected. Psalm 71:9-12,18
"Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when
my strength is gone." Psalm 71:9
3) Few writings on ravages of age are as powerful as Eccl. 12.
III. Bible usually presents old age in a bright light.
A. Bible is full of old people, with usual infirmities.
1) David can't get warm in own bed.
2) Isaac unable to tell his sons apart by sight or touch.
B. Old age is treated as a blessing.
1) The elderly are to be honored. Lev 19:32; 1 Pet 5:5
2) Fondest wish is to die "full of years." Gen 25:8
3) We are to number our days, not seek to escape them. Ps 90:12
4) Zechariah's lovely portrait of the restored Jerusalem has
elderly sitting in streets watching children. Zech 8:4-5
IV. Rather than diminishing us, age can bring us to deeper spirituality.
A. Old age teaches that life is not doing things, even great
things for God.
B. Old age is about stripping away the lies in order to teach us
the truth.
1) The lie says life is a bell-curve - up, then inevitably down.
2) Scripture teaches that life is meant to be up, all the way
to heaven.
There is a goal, and the goal determines the process we must
go through to get there.
Whatever is valued in heaven grows more and more valuable
on earth.
Whatever doesn't matter in heaven, matters less and less on
earth. The longer you live, the more it is so.
One older person said, "They say we are going downhill, but
they have it wrong.
It is uphill. That's why it is such hard work!"
C. Ben Patterson writes in "The Grand Essentials":
"I have a theory about old age...
I believe that when life has whittled us down, when joints have
failed and skin has wrinkled and capillaries have clogged
and hardened-
- what is left of us will be what we were all along, in our
essence."
Exhibit A is a distant uncle of his...
All his life he did nothing but find new ways to get rich.
When he was old he was very comfortable, drooling and babbling
constantly about the money he had made...
When life whittled him down to his essence, all there was left
was raw greed.
That is what he had cultivated in a thousand little ways over a
lifetime.
Exhibit B is Patterson's wife's grandmother...
When she died in her mid eighties, she had already been senile
for several years.
What did this lady talk about?
The best example Patterson could think of was when we asked her
to pray before dinner.
She would reach out and hold the hands of those sitting beside
her, a broad, beatific smile would spread across her face,
her dim eyes would fill with tears as she looked up to heaven.
Then her chin would quaver as she poured out her love to Jesus.
That was Edna in a nutshell.
She loved Jesus and she loved people.
She couldn't remember their names, but she couldn't keep her hands
from patting them lovingly whenever they got near her.
When life whittled her down to her essence, all there was left
was love: Love for God and love for people.
#1914
V. Age gives us opportunities for service.
A. Serving the elderly.
1) No secret that many have needs.
a) Goldy Weller, Isabelle Vescio.
b) Mrs. Stefanic and joy from visit in nursing home.
2) Thanksgiving dinner is appreciated because it is a rare
opportunity to see friends.
B. The elderly can serve.
1) They have time...experience...knowledge.
2) Why aren't the opportunities forthcoming?
a) Goal of a Sunday School class for senior Christians.
b) Devotional meetings.
3) Fruit can still come forth in old age. Psalm 92:14-15
"They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh
and green, proclaiming, "The LORD is upright; he is my
Rock, and there is no wickedness in him."
C. Robert Browning wrote the poem "Rabbi ben Ezra" back in 1864:
Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made;
Our times are in his hand
Who saith, "A whole I planned,
Youth shows but half; trust God; see all, nor be afraid!" #1738
************************* NOTES ****************************
CT, "Graying of America," David O. Moberg, 11/20/81, p. 30.
I. Avoided issue of taking care of father-in-law in old age.
A. We don't like to think about issue.
B. Every year you can do less, look worse.
C. This spiritual disease is widespread, so much so that euthanasia
has the appeal of mercy.
II. Duration of life is limited. Gen 6:3; Ps 90:3-6, etc.
A. Death is inevitable end of life. Heb 9:27
B. Human existence does not end at death. 1 Cor 15
III. Wise people should prepare for their future.
A. Future life in heaven.
B. Future life on earth. Ps 90:12; Prov 3:1-2, etc.
IV. America is characterized by "ageism," prejudice against the old.
A. Instances occur in OT as well. 1 Kg 12:6-20; Job 32:4-10
1) Sometimes old were neglected. Ps 71:9-12,18 (inference)
B. Biblical instructions center on honoring parents. Exod 20:12
1) Was extended to respect for all elderly peole. Lev 19:32;
1 Tim 5:1-21; 1 Pt 5:5
2) (If natural tendency, wouldn't have to be commanded.)
V. How churches dishonor the old.
A. Emphasis on youth and young families.
B. Young chosen for leadership.
C. Personal worth equated with occupational roles; retired are
"nobodies."
D. Programs are centered on evenings, when elderly find it hard
to get out.
VI. Ministries for, with and by the elderly.
A. They can still bring forth fruit in old age. *** Ps 92:14
CT, "The Old-Age Heresy," Tim Stafford, 9/16/91, p. 31.
=======================================================
I. Avoided issue of taking care of father-in-law in old age.
A. We don't like to think about issue.
B. Every year you can do less, look worse.
C. This spiritual disease is widespread, so much so that euthanasia
has the appeal of mercy.
II. Bible presents old age in a bright light. (except for Eccl 12)
A. Bible is full of old people, with usual infirmities.
1) David can't get warm in own bed.
2) Isaac unable to tell his sons apart by sight or touch.
B. But old age is treated as a blessing.
1) Fondest wish is to die "full of years."
2) We are to number our days, not seek to escape them. Ps 90:12
3) Zechariah's lovely portrait of the restored Jerusalem has
elderly sitting in streets watching children. Zech 8:4-5
4) Death is "swallowed up" but not old age. Isa 65:20
III. Former times were not necessarily enlightened.
A. Aristotle and Grimm.
1) The older, the nastier. Often witches in disguise.
B. Meaning of life to Christians - glorify God, love, pray.
C. If paths to heaven and hell diverge visibly on earth, they begin
to split in the nursing home. There is a vast difference
between those who have lived the lie, and now have nothing
left but their memories, and those who can see themselves
still growing into love.
D. Old age is about stripping away the lies in order to teach us
the truth.
1) Old age teaches that life is not doing things, even great
things for God.
2) The lie says life is a bell-curve - up, then inevitably down.
Scripture teaches that life is meant to be up, all the way to
heaven. There is a goal, and the goal determines the process
we must go through to get there. Whatever is valued in
heaven grows more and more valuable on earth. Whatever
matters not in heaven, matters less and less on earth. The
longer you live, the more it is so.
3) One older person said, "They say we are going downhill, but
they have it wrong. It is uphill. That's why it is such
hard work!"
CT, "Role Changes," Fran White, 2/5/82, p. 34.
I. Unique options of retirees.
II. Challenge of adjustment.
III. Challenge of role modification.
IV. Challenge of increased dependency, and loneliness.
V. Challenge of a life inventory.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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