Have you ever stopped to imagine what your life will be like when you retire and grow older? Have you thought about it as you have seen your parents or grandparents grow older? What do you foresee? How are you planning for that time in your life? Are you preparing for it?
When we are young, we don’t think about growing old. It’s not until we get into our mid or late forties, maybe not until we get into our fifties that we finally take notice, if then. Growing old is not on our minds as we go about our busy lives of work, family, and entertainment.
Jesus spoke a truth to Peter after He had reconciled Peter to Him. It is a hard truth that all of us will have to wrestle with. We may not be crucified as Peter was, according to tradition. However, we will get to a point that we can no longer clothe ourselves and will be taken to places we prefer not to go.
How do I know this? I visit at least one nursing home every week. I talk to the residents there. I know they do not want to be there, but they can no longer care for themselves. There are many reasons they cannot. The reason may be weakness, failing eyesight, or some form of dementia. Regardless of the reason, they are where they don’t want to be and often need assistance dressing themselves.
The ones I speak with most often are Christians, members of the churches I serve. They do well in those facilities primarily because of their faith in Jesus. They know He will never leave them. They cling to His promise of eternal life spent with Him. Some even pray that He will come get them, though not from a fatalistic perspective. They simply want to be relieved of the pain and be with Him. We all would do well to think about how we will handle a time when we need others to assist us in getting dressed in places we would rather not be.
I pray we all contemplate what getting older will look like for us. I pray we learn lessons from our parents and grandparents. I pray each one of us knows that Jesus will never leave us. Contemplate getting older. Learn valuable lessons. Jesus will never leave you. Trust in His promises.
John 21:18 “Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.”
Marty Pressey 