I never dreamed it would arrive so soon, but last week brought a rude awakening. I spent some time weeding our slope filled with ice plant, palms, society garlic, a crepe myrtle, a good-sized camphor tree, and ample undesired grass and dandelions. After, I grabbed a Baldacci novel and a beer and plopped down in front of our waterfall and pond. On the right, a lizard did pushups on a sun-warmed rock, and a small yellow-breasted bird swooped into the stream for a sip and a bath. Then, without conscious intent, I looked down at my calf, crossed on my other leg, and reality hit me. Yeah, the pic above. The skin rippled with wrinkles like the sand on the beach after a receding wave.
Before, my legs had been a point of pride to this former distance runner. But the loss of smooth skin with well-defined muscles gave incontrovertible evidence—age has arrived. True confession time, this irreversible evidence did not cause me to respond with joy and jumping in the air.
Decades back, focusing on the negative parts of life drove me into deep depression and thoughts of suicide, and I learned sanity and life improves on looking for some good in all aspects. So, I’m choosing (notice the tense, this process is not instant) to view these signs of aging as hints of heaven: reminders it is coming. Now here’s a benefit of acknowledging our aging—we think of heaven much more.
Of course, the signs differ for us all, but come they will. So let’s choose to let them remind us to get ready. Two verses come to mind on how to turn aging into a blessing.
“Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
Death comes to just about all of us, and we stand before God. At that time, we proverbially go up or down, based on Jesus being our Savior and Lord. If you’re unsure of this, feel free to email or PM me or send a snail mail letter. I’d be honored to help in any way I can.
But the process of getting older gives us another opportunity, to best prepare ourselves for eternity. “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). Or, once we accept God, we use our time on earth to become the person that can best take advantage of eternity. A few weeks ago I used the first part of the Westminster Confession, which I really appreciate: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.”
Think of that: we glorify God now by transformed lives, then we enjoy him forever. And the more godly we become here, the better we enjoy God in heaven. How? I only have a clue: Paul assured us that what we do after accepting Jesus impacts heaven for each of us. Here’s a longer passage on how our rewards in heaven will vary, please read 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 on your own, and take some time to ponder it.
So, the next time an ache or pain or wrinkle or gray hair or health issue reminds you of a body in the process of decay, turn it from depression to a reminder of great times in heaven.
Kick Starting the Application
Have you noticed any signs of aging, and what is your typical response? Do you think often of heaven? How are you crafting your life now to better enjoy eternity? How can you do better? Have you read the Corinthians passage, and how does it impact you?
