Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

men."cheerful?"glory"age?"me."chasteneth."you."world."Growing Old GracefullyJ. G. McElhinney, D.D.Is. 43:1-4Is. 46:4Zech. 14:7 "At evening time it shall be light."Prov. 16:31 The Hoary head is a crown of glory, ifit be formed in the way of righteousness.Ps. 92:12-15.A. J. Gorden met an aged man going to the placeof prayer. "Aged friend, how is it that so old a manis so merry and"Because I belong to the Lord.""Are no others happy at your time of"Listen to the truth from one who knows ; thentell it everywhere, and no man of three score andten can be found to gainsay it the devil has nohappy oldThere are two kinds of old age. Two attitudes ofmind. The mistrustful and cynical, or the attitudethat views life as a school in which are learned lessons both sweet and bitter which are a preparationfor advancing years and the glorious life beyond. Inthe first "The murmurings of youthful unhappinessbecomes the confirmed and habitual grumble of a dissatisfied old age. The lines of care and struggleharden and grow daily sharper, till the face wearsa constant and forbidding frown. Evil habits crystalizeinto unlovely traits of character and so old ageis marked by peevishness, complaining and discomfort."In the second: "The furrows of care and linesof bitterness or stern purpose are softened andglorified by a look of peace and joyous expectationthat speaks of brighter days to come in the celestial country. what is more beautiful than snowyage, sustained by a living faith, and movingon toward the end of life's journey, calm, serene, cheerful,full of trust in God and the hope of heaven."Growing old gracefully, happily, serenly, howcan it be done ?I. In the victory of the Cross. For the believer onthe cross of Christ1. All sin has been blotted out. "The blood of Jesussin."Christ cleanses us from all2. The mental cloud of sin has been removed."And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and mindsthrough Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7).3. They do not carry their own burden. In Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Christian's burdensfall off at the foot of the cross.4. "In the cross of Christ we because in itthere is the victory over both sin and death."Oh Death,where is thy sting, Oh Grave.where is thy victory ? The sting of death is sin,and the strength of sin is the law, but thanksbe unto God Who giveth us the victory throughour Lord Jesus Christ."II. In the Knowledge of a divine planThere are plans for our youth.There are also plans for old age. These plansinclude sunshine and shadow. Browning's RabbiBen Ezra52"Grow old along with me! the best is yet to be,The last of life, for which the first was made,Our times are in His hand who saith'A whole I planned youth shows but half ;Trust God ; See all nor beafraid.' "The divine plan includes trials. "Whom theLord loveth heSunset glory is immeasurably more beautiful after a day of storms.Peace after strife, trust after doubt, rest after toilsuch an old age means completeness. It is the ripening of a God-like character, the perfecting of animmortal soul ! "Whence come the resplendent coloring of the sky, the gold, the crimson, and the purple?Are they not born of the very clouds that broughtthe storm?So those lines of strength and beauty, thosetokens of ripened character, that quiet patience, thatglowing faith and hope, that chastened joy all havebeen imprinted upon the aged face by the hand ofexperience, the most painful.The mystery of years of trouble sentBy Him whose wisdom made the planets pathWill lift when we believe that it was meantTo test our faith in love and not in wrath.And thus my night with heaven's light all aglowIs cleared of darkness and of doubt for me,For I cansay with joy one thing I knowIn truth, that I was blind, but now I see! (J. G. Mc.)III. The Assurance of God's presence.The loneliness of old age is indescribable weneed to be sympathetic and understanding. The linesof Elizabeth Gould are appropriate here ;"Put your arms around me,There, like that :I want a little pettingAt life's setting,For 'tis harder to be braveWhen feeble age comes creepingand finds me weeping.Dear Ones gone.Just a little pettingAt life's setting :For I am old, alone and tiredAnd my long life's work is done."God's promises bring comfort, (Isa. 46:4)."Even to your old age I am He and even to hoarhairs will I carry Ps. 23:4, "Yea though I walkin the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear noevil, for Thou art with me ; Thy rod and Thy staffthey comfort Jesus said, "I am with you alwayeven to the end of the Ps. 91, "He thatdwelleth in the secret place of the most high shallabide under shadow of the Almighty."Psalm 61"My voice and prayer, oh God, attend,From earth's remotest bound I sendMy supplicating cry,When troubles overwhelm my breastThen lead me on the rock to restThat higher is than I.COVENANTER WITNESS