“He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:5 NLT)
“Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.” (Deuteronomy 34:7 NKJV)
“”I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart…And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.”(Joshua 14: 7, 10-11 NKJV)
One of my favorite all time movies is the Christmas movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” My favorite scene is the one in which George and Mary are walking home from the dance. They are talking when Mary catches George’s eye, and it is obvious that he is about to kiss her. They are interrupted by an older man standing on his porch watching them who yells out, “Why don’t you just kiss her?” Next he complains, “Awe, youth is wasted on the young.” I agree. I think our Heavenly Father agrees as well. Why else would He make the promise of “renewed youth” more than once in the Bible? We will come back to this thought.
At what age should I consider myself “old?” Was I “old” when I hit 50? Will I be old at that “magic” social security number of 65 (or for many 70)? Am I old at 80? I just Googled the most recent average lifespan. According to simplyinsurance.com, ” Male: 76.1 years – Average life expectancy of a US male (at birth). Female: 81.1 years – Average life expectancy of a US female (at birth).” My dad is 93, is that when I should expect to be “old?”
Caleb boldly proclaimed that he was still “young” at 85. He conquered the toughest task of his life at that advanced age. Moses was “young” enough to carry out his greatest challenge of life at 80 and was “young” when he died at 120. I have read about many individuals that started new ventures well beyond the typical “retirement” age. So what actually determines what it means to be “young” or “old?” I think it is much more than how many candles there are on my birthday cake.
I love the saying, “You’re only as old as you feel.” Even better is one that I heard in a commercial recently, “Age is an illusion.” Due to taking poor care of my mind and body (depressed and closing in on 400 pounds), I was old at 55. I felt back then, what at the time I imagined 95 would feel like. Today at 60, I am no longer old (depression is gone and I am about 125 pounds lighter). My mind is once again 30 and my body will catch up soon. The key is what the Bible refers to as “Youth.”
In studying the lives of Caleb, Moses, and Abraham, I have found that the key to their extended “youth” was in their assignments. The Bible makes it clear that when you accept an assignment from the Lord He provides whatever resources are needed to fulfill the assignment. When Caleb, Moses, and Abraham accepted assignments that were impossible to carry out due to their advanced ages, the Lord renewed their “youth.” With “youth,” as with so many of God’s promises, the activation is in the assignment. Are you feeling over the hill? Ask the Lord for a bigger hill to climb. The Lord does not show favoritism. What He did for Caleb, Moses, and Abraham, He will do for you and I.
There is so much more to be said; however I am trying to keep these daily blogs short and sweet. So for now, let’s just ponder…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 20: “Youth is a renewable energy for fossils (don’t waste it on the young).”