- By Rev. Chandran J. Lite
- Posted 06/25/2017
"Do not cast me when I am old;
Do not forsake me when my strength is gone"
The great evangelist John Wesley is a good example of serving God in one's senior years. In Wesley's life, he rode 350,000 miles on horseback, preaching the gospel. Preached over 40,000 sermons.
As he grew older, at the age of 83 he complained because he could only study for fifteen hours a day. At the age of 86, he became concerned about his spiritual state because he felt that he had become slothful by sleeping in until 5 a.m. At 87, he learnt his eleventh foreign language. At 88 he was worried he could only preach twice a day, everyday, six days a week.
Today's generation is a fast-food generation. But our American culture does not esteem the elderly. We are a utilitarian society. The younger generation often views the elderly as a financial burden and if they require our care, as an interference in the pursuit of pleasure and success. A few years ago the governor of Colorado made a merciless statement. Governor, Richard Lamm said in a discussion of spiraling health care cost, that terminally elderly people have "a duty to die and get out of the way".
But David's plea to God, based on God's loving care and kindness, is to keep David ever under His care. David knew, his family and friends may forsake and forget David in his old age but God would not. He is the God of the underdogs, the weakest and the worn-out. Are you in your old age? God can use you still for His glory and for the extension of His kingdom, irrespective of your age. The world may condemn you as worthless and useless, but our God will never !
Yours in His service
Pastor Lite