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"You can't teach an old dog new tricks." "He's old and stuck in his
ways." "She's never going to change."
There is an ingrained, all-too-often-proved-true, prejudice that when
we get older we can't, or won't, change any more. This is despite some
great examples in the Bible -- like Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and Caleb
and that's just the first six books -- and some great passages of
Scripture that challenge us to keep on changing to become more like
Jesus:
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting
away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians
4:16). Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces
contemplate/reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into
his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord,
who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).
Two of my favorite people in the Bible are old in years, but fresh and
new in faith. They are Anna and Simeon, who greeted the baby Jesus at
the Temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:22-38 TNIV). I wonder how many asked
them, "Why can't you just act our age?" or "When are you going to be
more realistic?" But they kept believing -- believing in the vision and
the answer to their prayers.
On top of the biblical examples are the modern ones. I have a friend
who turned 80 about 18 months ago. Since his birthday, he has been on
mission trips to Ghana and Central America. I have a sweet sister in
Christ who is 101, and she prays the most moving prayers when I visit
her. I have been blessed to baptize someone into Christ who was beyond
his 80th birthday and have seen four of my shepherds each hold the leg
of a chair so a lady over 90 could be baptized even though her legs
were paralyzed. Each of these people was passionate to honor the Lord
no matter where that path of honor might lead them.
It's a matter of heart, not age!
All of these people are proof that you may not be able to put new wine
in old wineskins, but can put new wine in open hearts! Jesus brings
that new wine to all who are passionate to honor him and follow him.
It's a matter of heart, not age!
It's a matter of faith, not experience!
So as we stand on the edge of the New Year, no matter what age we are,
let's make a commitment that we will never quit growing and reaching
toward Jesus. While resolutions may come and go with each New Year, the
commitment to grow with Jesus continues right up to the moment we meet
him face-to-face. Many of us here Old Vets and younger ALp members, do your best and follow what you know is right, you know what you did when you signed on to be partnerd here . Good luck to each of you for the New Year 2008. God_bless you. At your Service. Thomas R.
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