Psalm 92: 12-15 (ESV)
The righteous…still bear fruit in old age…to declare that the LORD is upright.
Pastor John Piper wrote a blog in 2016 entitled, “Hillary, Bernie, Donald, and Me,” which reminded me of that old kid’s magazine with the visual game where you had to circle the object that didn’t belong to the overall group. That would seem to be a pretty easy task with Piper’s blog title. Three of the people mentioned were running to be the next President of the United States, whereas John Piper…well, he wasn’t running for anything, much less very involved in politics. His point of amazement was this:
“At 70, I am energized to dream great things, because this year Hillary turns 69, Bernie turns 75, and Donald turns 70. My rising energy has nothing to do with their policies or character. It has to do with the incredible fact that all of them want to spend their seventies doing the hardest job in the world.”
If you are in your “golden years,” you work for the Lord is far from over and it could be that your most productive Kingdom Season is ahead of you! There are 70 million Baby Boomers in America (born 1946-1964). Ten thousand Americans turn 70 every day and will continue to do so for the next 16 years. Billions of dollars are thrown at you (them) every year trying to get you to spend your last chapter of life on leisure. Don’t do it. Sure, you have most likely earned some rest and relaxation and a slower pace (by choice or by reality), but that doesn’t mean you have to stop producing fruit that lasts. Of course, there are millions of older Americans who simply lack the health and/or the resources to “get out there and make a difference,” but God is still pleased when people live right where they are for the Glory of His name.
Piper highlighted the accomplishments of people over 70, and it’s an impressive and encouraging list. Four of the current Supreme Court Justices are over 65. Ronald Reagan served as president from age 70-78 and at 76 he stared down Russia and demanded, “Tear down this wall!” Winston Churchill was 66 when he became Britain’s Prime Minister in 1940 and was 70 when the world finally saw victory over the Nazi’s. Oswald Chambers was still lecturing at 89. Caleb took a mountain at 85 years of age when God’s people finally entered the Promised Land and Noah was 600 when he started building the Ark J. It would seem that older people have been shaping world history for quite some time.
Piper wrapped up this “charge” for an older generation of Christians so well that I will finish well by sharing it with you here:
“Jesus gave himself for us to purify for himself a people who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). No age limit. Zealous. Passionate. To the end. For good works. Works that he has gifted you to do. He has given you a lifetime of experience and wisdom and resources. You have a decade of freedom in front of you. This is a trust. All your previous life was designed for this season of fruitfulness. What is your dream?
“The righteous . . . still bear fruit in old age . . . to declare that the Lord is upright” (Ps. 92:12–15). Why would God tell us that? Because he wants us to dream that. He wants us to pray for that.
Not everyone gets the privilege. Some die young. Some must bear the burden of immobilizing pain. But millions are free to engage fully!. If you do not dream a joyful dream of productive service for Christ in your seventies, what will you say to the Savior? Your only excuse will be that you listened to the voice of this age rather than to God’s. It will not be a good excuse.”
