Every morning, I look at the face in the mirror staring back at me. Maybe a new wrinkle, a new gray hair in the beard, perhaps another inch where my hairline has creeped further up in its race to meet the bald spot on the other side. Sometimes the face looks blurry, especially when I am not wearing my glasses.
Getting older. We all face it. The hands of time slow down for no one. If you're not blessed with great genetics or have the money for plastic surgery we will all experience the effects of time and aging in our lives.
For me, it has been watching the inevitable climb of my hairline up my head since my mid-20's. Being a heavy metal fan with long hair, it got discouraging watching my hair slowly go away. As time has gone by, I decided to shave my head down and not be a comb over guy. Later, being diagnosed with diabetes and needing glasses help to reinforce that, yes, I am getting older. Looking in the mirror will sometimes do that.
There is sometimes dread, I have noticed, when it comes to getting older. I think it is because we all know where that leads to. Spoiler alert: we are all going to die. We all have a finite on this planet. Some have more than others. We never know when our time is coming to an end. Even though I know I have the assurance of heaven, approach getting older with a little trepidation.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16.
Powerful words there. There is the assurance that death is not the final chapter for those who believe. Yet, we as a people can be afraid of death. It's a very human thing to feel. I can only speak for myself as to where I have been regarding the subject.
Part of it for me is how I will go. Will there be pain? Will I die in my sleep? I don't want my final moments to be pain and agony. I don't do well with pain. Call me a wimp, I accept that. There's something about suffering that I'm not a big fan of. Plus, people might see me at my worst in those moments.
Another thing is the fear of leaving your loved ones behind. That they will all be sad and be unable to carry on without you. I have heard of people telling their loved ones that its OK for them to go, before they pass on. There's something beautiful, I think, in wanting to make sure your loved ones will be fine even after you are gone. They will be. There is definite mourning - as there should be for a person who has impacted your life. That's a good thing in my opinion. It speaks to one's life if people feel a void when you are gone. But as I said, it happens and will happen to all of us.
Another aspect is where the enemy works his magic on us. It's the question: "Are you really sure you're going to heaven?"
We can think "Is it true?" The fear of hell is real. I don't want to end up there. That can make you start thinking of trying to work our way to heaven. Thinking of what you need to fix and get right so you can feel more of an "assurance" you are working towards. Living with that fear of not measuring up is what the enemy wants. Our assurance is believing in Jesus and his grace. Nothing we can do will get us there. Just Jesus.
Now, we don't want to just focus on heaven while we are still called to things in this life. God has plans for us here to do before we are called home. Listen to His lead and He will reveal them. We all have a purpose and there is no retirement as we get older. All are called no matter where you are in life.
Even when you're a little older, a little heavier, you have less hair, creaky knees, and blurrier vision. Our time here is short, but there is still so much God is calling us to. On the other side, we can have the confidence in our eternal future. There are many places in the bible where this assurance is given to us.
As I look at myself in the mirror, I see what God has created at the right time and in the right place.
Getting older. We all face it. The hands of time slow down for no one. If you're not blessed with great genetics or have the money for plastic surgery we will all experience the effects of time and aging in our lives.
For me, it has been watching the inevitable climb of my hairline up my head since my mid-20's. Being a heavy metal fan with long hair, it got discouraging watching my hair slowly go away. As time has gone by, I decided to shave my head down and not be a comb over guy. Later, being diagnosed with diabetes and needing glasses help to reinforce that, yes, I am getting older. Looking in the mirror will sometimes do that.
There is sometimes dread, I have noticed, when it comes to getting older. I think it is because we all know where that leads to. Spoiler alert: we are all going to die. We all have a finite on this planet. Some have more than others. We never know when our time is coming to an end. Even though I know I have the assurance of heaven, approach getting older with a little trepidation.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16.
Powerful words there. There is the assurance that death is not the final chapter for those who believe. Yet, we as a people can be afraid of death. It's a very human thing to feel. I can only speak for myself as to where I have been regarding the subject.
Part of it for me is how I will go. Will there be pain? Will I die in my sleep? I don't want my final moments to be pain and agony. I don't do well with pain. Call me a wimp, I accept that. There's something about suffering that I'm not a big fan of. Plus, people might see me at my worst in those moments.
Another thing is the fear of leaving your loved ones behind. That they will all be sad and be unable to carry on without you. I have heard of people telling their loved ones that its OK for them to go, before they pass on. There's something beautiful, I think, in wanting to make sure your loved ones will be fine even after you are gone. They will be. There is definite mourning - as there should be for a person who has impacted your life. That's a good thing in my opinion. It speaks to one's life if people feel a void when you are gone. But as I said, it happens and will happen to all of us.
Another aspect is where the enemy works his magic on us. It's the question: "Are you really sure you're going to heaven?"
We can think "Is it true?" The fear of hell is real. I don't want to end up there. That can make you start thinking of trying to work our way to heaven. Thinking of what you need to fix and get right so you can feel more of an "assurance" you are working towards. Living with that fear of not measuring up is what the enemy wants. Our assurance is believing in Jesus and his grace. Nothing we can do will get us there. Just Jesus.
Now, we don't want to just focus on heaven while we are still called to things in this life. God has plans for us here to do before we are called home. Listen to His lead and He will reveal them. We all have a purpose and there is no retirement as we get older. All are called no matter where you are in life.
Even when you're a little older, a little heavier, you have less hair, creaky knees, and blurrier vision. Our time here is short, but there is still so much God is calling us to. On the other side, we can have the confidence in our eternal future. There are many places in the bible where this assurance is given to us.
As I look at myself in the mirror, I see what God has created at the right time and in the right place.
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