Sometimes, the things I’m reading seem to flow together to give a coherent message. This post is the result of a coming together of scripture, social studies and a couple of books by Christian authors. It also speaks to the particular stage of life I’m in at present.

“Seventy years are given to us!
Some even live to eighty.
But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble;
soon they disappear, and we fly away.”

Psalm 90:10 NLT

That’s the long and the short of it – human existence is brief and fragile. God is eternal and glorious. Yet if we live this transient life in close relationship with God we can enjoy our best years despite the pain and trouble.

I’ve read a number of studies that reckon that our thirties are the “best” years of life. However, more recently there appears to be a shift among secular writers to suggest that our post-sixty years may well be our best. It may be that we care less about what people think about us or that we don’t feel we need to “play the game” to fit in any more. Perhaps for that reason we’re able to take on things freed from the fear of failing and looking foolish. Perhaps life experience brings wisdom about what really matter enabling us to make choices that bring joy to ourselves and others.

All this goes against the negative depiction of aging prevalent in much of the media, of aches and pains, of loss, of the gradual shrinking of our world . Yet through these times, even despite these times older people enjoy a carefree enjoyment of life where we can be ourselves and no longer fear the cares of life or the descent into dependency.

But what does this mean to us as followers of Jesus? In one study I read people who were most energised and joyous were those who gave their time and energy to serving and helping others. Surely after a life time of following Jesus we could be people who know how to do this.

In his book “Practicing the Way”, John Mark Comer writes:

…The spiritual teacher Pete Scazzero once told me a maxim that was passed on to him by an older, wiser mentor: “The best decade of your life will be your seventies, the second best will be your eighties, and the third will be your sixties.” By best he did not mean the happiest (though I expect that too) but our richest and most joyful and helpful to others.

John Mark Comer, “Practising the Way”

John Mark writes this in the context of spiritual formation, of becoming more and more like Jesus. He says that becoming like Jesus is a life-long process, as we get to know him better and to rely on his Spirit more and more. It is more than “a little tune up on the way to the afterlife”. For too long we have misunderstood eternal life as being something we long for as we crawl through this life until at last we die and go to heaven. We have failed to see that Jesus invites us to begin living his kind of life right now as we spend time with him, become like him and do what he did. John Mark says:

“…we cannot lower the horizon of possibility that was set by the extraordinary life of Jesus and gift of his Spirit. Instead, we must stay with the process for as long as it takes to actualize our destinies.

And this may take a very long time.

…It’s more like a quiet undercurrent that slowly accumulates at the base of your soul, increasingly welling up like a soft melody that over the years becomes the soundtrack of your life”

John Mark Comer, “Practising the Way”

It’s probably no coincidence that several prominent Bible characters were well past the first flush of youth before God called them to do significant things. Abraham was about 74, Moses 80 and Caleb 85 –

“Now, as you can see, the LORD has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise-even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. [11] I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. [12] So give me the hill country that the LORD promised me.

Joshua 14:10-12 NLT

I forgot to mention that I am approaching my 72^nd birthday. I guess that means I should get ready to “fly away”. But I think that taking flight means so much more than just going to heaven. Until that day I still need to spread my wings and ride the wind of the Holy Spirit wherever he takes me. My 50s and 60s have been eventful, sometimes tough but definitely joyful when I’ve kept close to Jesus. And I’m looking forward to the things God still Has for me to do and the life he wants me to live going forward. As Christine Caine says:

The kind of spirit Caleb has is the kind of spirit I always want to have, don’t you? One that says, “I’m eighty-five and God isn’t finished with me yet”. One that says, “There are still Kingdom assignments to fulfil, and I want a piece of the action. I am still enduring in faith and, until I draw my last breath, I won’t be done.”

Christine Caine, “You’re Not Finished Yet”

Becoming like that is a life long process of becoming more like Jesus, starting when he first calls us to follow him. Now would be a good time to begin!