IT HAS BEEN SAID….IT HAS BEEN SAID….

““ONCE A MAN…ONCE A MAN…

TWICE A CHILD”TWICE A CHILD”

Perhaps not in every case, but in a number Perhaps not in every case, but in a number of cases….this is a true statement.of cases….this is a true statement.

Perhaps you know of what I am speaking of.Perhaps you know of what I am speaking of. An aging person sometimes will develop An aging person sometimes will develop

dimentia and revert back to child-like dimentia and revert back to child-like actions.actions.

THERE IS A PHOBIA OF THERE IS A PHOBIA OF GROWING OLD….GROWING OLD….

Many want to follow Ponce De LeonMany want to follow Ponce De Leon We are a society who want to keep our We are a society who want to keep our

youth!youth! We color our hair, or we cover it up; We color our hair, or we cover it up; We put on make-up; We put on make-up; We can even get an “extreme We can even get an “extreme

makeover” and look 10 years younger!!!makeover” and look 10 years younger!!! It is difficult for some to just face the It is difficult for some to just face the

obvious…there is nothing wrong in obvious…there is nothing wrong in growing old gracefully.growing old gracefully.

THE BIBLE SAYS IT’S A THE BIBLE SAYS IT’S A BLESSING TO GROW OLD!BLESSING TO GROW OLD!

But before we look into the But before we look into the Bible, consider with me the 7 Bible, consider with me the 7 ages of men…ages of men…

The seven ages of manThe seven ages of man

6 weeks--all systems go 6 weeks--all systems go 6 years--all systems “No!” 6 years--all systems “No!” 16 years--all systems know 16 years--all systems know 26 years--all systems glow 26 years--all systems glow 36 years--all systems owe 36 years--all systems owe 56 years--all systems status quo 56 years--all systems status quo 76 years--all systems slow76 years--all systems slow

The seven ages of man…again!The seven ages of man…again!

SpillsSpills DrillsDrills ThrillsThrills BillsBills IllsIlls PillsPills WillsWills

Consider this…Consider this…

Perhaps it’s the anticipation of what may Perhaps it’s the anticipation of what may happen latter that sometimes robs us of happen latter that sometimes robs us of our inner peace.our inner peace.

Some legitimate concerns:Some legitimate concerns: Will I have the health to take care of my Will I have the health to take care of my

aging parents?aging parents? Will I become a burden to my children?Will I become a burden to my children? Will I spend my last days in a Nursing Will I spend my last days in a Nursing

Home?Home? These are serious concerns in a world These are serious concerns in a world

where folks are living longer.where folks are living longer.

INNER PEACEINNER PEACE

““How Shall the Old Secure Their Hearts?”How Shall the Old Secure Their Hearts?”

The prayer of an aging manThe prayer of an aging manA Brief Look at Psalm 71A Brief Look at Psalm 71

The concerns he experiencedThe concerns he experienced

Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails. not forsake me when my strength fails. (Psalm 71:9)(Psalm 71:9)

And even when I am old and gray, O God, do And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me…(Psalm 71:18)not forsake me…(Psalm 71:18)

O God, do not be far from me; O my God, O God, do not be far from me; O my God, hasten to my help! (Psalm 71:12)hasten to my help! (Psalm 71:12)

The confidence he expressedThe confidence he expressed

For Thou art my hope; O Lord For Thou art my hope; O Lord God, Thou art my confidence God, Thou art my confidence from my youth. (Psalm 71:5)from my youth. (Psalm 71:5)

O God, Thou hast taught me from O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth; and I still declare Thy my youth; and I still declare Thy wondrous deeds. (Psalm 71:17)wondrous deeds. (Psalm 71:17)

By Thee I have been sustained By Thee I have been sustained from my birth…(Psalm 71:6)from my birth…(Psalm 71:6)

Thou, who hast shown me many Thou, who hast shown me many troubles and distresses, wilt troubles and distresses, wilt revive me again, and wilt bring revive me again, and wilt bring me up again from the depths of me up again from the depths of the earth. (Psalm 71:20)the earth. (Psalm 71:20)

Thou hast given commandment Thou hast given commandment to save me, for Thou art my rock to save me, for Thou art my rock and my fortress. (Psalm 71:3)and my fortress. (Psalm 71:3)

I will come with the mighty deeds I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord God; I will make of the Lord God; I will make mention of Thy righteousness, mention of Thy righteousness, Thine alone. (Psalm 71:16)Thine alone. (Psalm 71:16)

The consequences he expectedThe consequences he expected

My lips will shout for joy when I My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to Thee; and my sing praises to Thee; and my soul, which Thou hast redeemed soul, which Thou hast redeemed (Psalm 71:23).(Psalm 71:23).

My mouth shall tell of Thy My mouth shall tell of Thy righteousness, And of Thy righteousness, And of Thy salvation all day long; For I do salvation all day long; For I do not know the sum of them. not know the sum of them. (Psalm 71:15)(Psalm 71:15)

And even when I am old and gray, O And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Thy strength to this generation, Thy Thy strength to this generation, Thy power to all who are to come. (Psalm power to all who are to come. (Psalm 71:18)71:18)

I have become a marvel to many; For I have become a marvel to many; For Thou art my strong refuge. (Psalm Thou art my strong refuge. (Psalm 71:7)71:7)

Mayest Thou increase my greatness, Mayest Thou increase my greatness, And turn to comfort me. (Psalm 71:21)And turn to comfort me. (Psalm 71:21)

How Shall the Old How Shall the Old Secure Their Hearts?Secure Their Hearts?

Keep learning & growing in faithKeep learning & growing in faith Stay connected to loved ones, friends, and Stay connected to loved ones, friends, and

brethrenbrethren Count your blessings daily and avoid Count your blessings daily and avoid

complainingcomplaining

Treat others with kindness rather than Treat others with kindness rather than with insensitive frankness (brutally with insensitive frankness (brutally honest…ouch!)honest…ouch!)

Keep serving others…do little things.Keep serving others…do little things. Keep your eyes on the prize…Paul, the Keep your eyes on the prize…Paul, the

aged (Phm.1:9) did…see 2Tim.4:6-8aged (Phm.1:9) did…see 2Tim.4:6-8

REMEMBERREMEMBER

Pay day is right around the corner for you!Pay day is right around the corner for you! Don’t give up now !!!Don’t give up now !!! When death comes your way, be ready for it !!!When death comes your way, be ready for it !!! Listen to Psalms 90:10 ---Listen to Psalms 90:10 --- ““As for the days of our life, they contain 70 As for the days of our life, they contain 70

years, or if due to strength, 80 years, yet their years, or if due to strength, 80 years, yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away.” Song: “O Come Angel gone and we fly away.” Song: “O Come Angel Band”Band”

Paradise is your next stop!Paradise is your next stop!

AND DON’T FORGET AND DON’T FORGET THIS:THIS:

Ps 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Ps 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. LORD is the death of his saints.

Re 14:13 ¶ And I heard a voice from Re 14:13 ¶ And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. their works do follow them.

This is how the old secures their hearts!This is how the old secures their hearts!