Growing Old Ungracefully

Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in the stocks in prison, for he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa inflicted cruelties upon some of the people at the same time. the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people. (2 Chronicles 16:10)

Most of us will grow old.  Only some of us will do it gracefully.

2 Chronicles 16:10-14 record the last stubborn days of a great king.  Asa was a grumpy old man.  His major offense?  He got a disease in his feet and didn’t ask the Lord for help.  Now, there’s nothing wrong with going to doctors.  God wants us to be wise.  But he also wants us to trust him–more than counselors, therapists, doctors, and pills–and trust him to the end.

There are two types of old Christians.  There are those who fret and fuss about how bad things have gotten and how rotten kids are these days.  These cantankerous old rascals don’t like the church’s music, people, or pastor.

But then there are Christians who, like fine wine, get better with age.  They pray more.  They get wiser and kinder.  They understand what really matters.  They love the Lord and everyday they read their big print Bibles with the devotional tucked in as a book mark.  They pray for their kids and grandkids without ceasing.  They’re a pastor’s best friend and they long to be with Jesus.  These are the un-Asa-like believers the church desperately needs.

So for all those out there heading into life’s last lap, what type of senior saint will you be–crotchety or Christlike?