The Later Years
The later years should not be seen as simply waiting for life to end. Scripture shows person after person being useful to God in old age. Age changes what we can do, but it does not remove our purpose. Older people have something younger people cannot get from a classroom: experience. They have seen prayers answered and mistakes made, and they have watched God stay faithful through things that once looked impossible.
What Scripture Says
“They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.” (Psalm 92:14)
“Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.” (Psalm 71:18)
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
Practical Advice
Simplify where you can. You do not need to keep everything.
Keep finances and legal affairs in order. Make sure wills, powers of attorney, beneficiaries, insurance, property records and important passwords can be found by someone you trust.
Tell your family your wishes about medical care. Do not leave your children to guess in the middle of a crisis.
Stay connected to people. Isolation is dangerous for the body and for the soul.
Keep learning and keep praying.
Encourage your children and grandchildren, and tell them what the Lord has done in your life. They will remember your stories long after they forget your advice.
Above all, make certain the question of eternity is settled.
From My Own Life
I did not begin studying the Word and writing until after I retired. The Lord was not finished with me, and He is not finished with you.
A Question to Think About
What do you want the people who come after you to know about the Lord, and have you told them yet?
The lesson for this season: Finish well. Leave behind more than possessions; leave behind faith, wisdom, memories and testimony.
Go deeper: Class 28 – The Story Does Not End at Death · Books: Death Then What and The Rest of the Story · Song: So Close to Heaven to Miss Now · Where Did All the Time Go?