“So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.” (1 Kings 1:3) The man who by the power of the Lord slayed a giant, (1 Sam. 17) who fought battles as the king of an entire nation could not even create enough heat in his own body to stay warm, now old and becoming frail.Samson, who carried the entire gate with the post upon his shoulders, (Judges 16:3) weak as any other man until the strength of the Lord rested again upon him in his final moments. The strong, proud fisherman carried where he did not want to go, too little strength left in his body to resist. (John 21:18)
I can no longer run the mile in four and a half minutes, I can no longer carry the heavy objects I used to, some days it can be quite difficult just to walk. The world, at least a large part of the people in it, see these disadvantages as just that, disadvantages, the inability to perform not just physically but mentally as we once were able to is a sure sign to them that our usefulness has come to an end, and in many cases, they may be correct.
I mean this in no disrespect, but I have reached an age where it is quite easy for me to see the folly and foolishness of the youth, lives spent in self-indulging, self-centered pleasures and accomplishments, and as they get older, as they reach an age of maturity, as it is called, their endeavors change very little, they are still as young adults in their pursuits and pleasures. Those who have attained a level of competency within the sub-struct of the world are admired for their achievements, we place them not only in positions of authority, but point to them as some of the finest examples of mankind. It is the way of the world, we esteem those things, these accomplishments of these individuals, these people who in time will return to the dust that they came from, soon to be forgotten, so that we may set the next one upon our shoulders, showering accolades upon them.
“Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (Matt. 16:23) This is what man savors, pride demands it from the lost, recognition of our accomplishments, to as many as possible, when in the end all will be forgotten, even their names. (Eccl. 1:11) Why Satan has desired to be the ruler of this earth, I do not know, I know only that it will not last for long, why we as individuals seek the highest possible position, whether it be in personal recognition, the recognition from others in a small or large scale I do know, save for the answer of pride, we need to feel, especially as we grow older, that our lives have had some purpose, some meaning, that we have influenced, at least in some small way the path of others.
I speak as one of the lost here, or better yet, I speak as they would speak if they were truthful to themselves.
Death is the greatest enemy they will face, and they know that they will lose that battle, and so when the pleasures of youth are spent, when the pursuits of life are no longer their goal, they have only one recourse left as that final day approaches, to find a reason for why they existed in the first place. They will hope that whatever deeds they have committed will outlive them, if they are of a religious nature, they will hope that whatever god they have chosen to follow will find the works they have done in their life acceptable, each of them will have nothing but hope, and in each and every one of them those hopes will be dashed to pieces in a few moments afterwards, for they will open their eyes to the truth.
I have no hope, I have a calm assurance, I do not dread that final moment, nor do I find terror in its approach, for my friends, I know my Redeemer lives, I know for a fact that His promises are true. I have been cold against my Savior, and I have been hot in my service to Him, but I can find no place in my life where I have been lukewarm.
When this time of life approaches for those who have been blessed to see it, a retrospective mind will begin to creep in, and it can be the greatest enemy of the born-again believer as he grows older. Instead of looking forward to what the Lord desires for them to accomplish for His glory that day, they will begin to rest in their past accomplishments, they will start to look behind instead of forward. This trap has been fallen into by many as they reach the end of their lives, and it must not be so.
Those who have spent even a small part of their lives in the service of the Lord know that the battle will not end for others when they are taken home to glory, and so whatever wisdom that the Lord has imparted to them must be passed on to those who will remain. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Prov. 4:7) Let the lost have their rewards here, let those who believe in idols and the traditions of man continue in their false hope, until your last breath, you ask the Lord Jesus to use you for His glory, your rest is not here, it awaits you at home.
