“Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home and the mourners go about the street…..then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit unto God who gave it.”—Ecclesiastes 12:5-7
Those of us who are now in the “Golden Years of Life” know all too well that the days of old age are fraught with many difficulties. Our frail bodies are now more susceptible to physical problems. There are so many things we would like to do but cannot because our strength has faded considerably and our abilities have become somewhat limited. On the other hand, our courage and our faith and commitment to our God is stronger now than it has ever been, even in the days of youth. The difficulties of old age may sometimes be a burden but they are made bearable because through the eye of faith we can see that land on a far away strand where we will never grow old and one day we will fly away to God’s celestial shore. Just knowing that on the day when this earthly tabernacle is dissolved, we have a home waiting that is not made with human hands puts a gleam in our eyes and a smile on our face (2 Cor. 5:1-2, John 14:1-3).
Today, we just need to live the best life possible (Ephesians 5:14-17, Romans 13:11-14). We must be diligent in guarding our lives against all those things that will blemish our souls and prevent us from serving our Lord in a way that will be pleasing to him (1 John 2:15-17, Romans 12:2, Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Thessalonians 5:17). On the other hand, we should be diligent in doing that which will make it possible for us to one day say that we have fought a good fight, kept the faith and finished the course (2 Timothy 4:6-8, 2 Peter 3:18, 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, 2 Peter 1:4-11).
Knowing that each step we take brings us closer to realizing that glorious hope of receiving the crown of righteousness Paul speaks of in 2 Timothy 4:8 fills us with an excitement and anticipation that makes our hearts leap with joy. Of a truth, every step we take just brings us a little closer to the end of our journey. O how I love to sing: “Each step I take I know that He will guide me, To higher ground He ever leads me on. Until someday the last step will be taken. Each step I take just leads me closer home”.
Today, I am pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14) knowing that the next step I take may very well be that last step that will take me home (1 Samuel 20:3). And so it is with all who now read these words.
Charles Hicks