For the ignorant, old age is winter; for the learned, it is the harvest.

Anonymous

 Those who are planted in the house of the LORD Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, To declare that the LORD is upright; [He is] my rock, and [there is] no unrighteousness in Him.

Psalm 92:13-15

If we aren’t carful we will put a limit on God. We will give him our “yes” but only to a degree. We often think too little of the young and the old. I once was writing to a bunch of youth pastors asking, “How old do you have to be to obey the great commission?” My challenge was to get them to charge their middle schoolers to share the gospel. Then God surprised me when my 6-year-old knocked on the door and told me how he shared bible stories with his friends at recess.

Likewise, we’ll look at the other end of the spectrum and imagine that the crop of spiritual fruit stops coming in at a certain point. The aches and pains of age, both physical and emotional often lead to sour attitudes and bitterness. It seems like our season is winding down and we aren’t as interested in the remaining fruit on the vine as we once were. 

I like this short passage because we see two ends of the spectrum. On one end, some are planted in the courts of the Lord, and on the other end, some are still bearing fruit in old age. (This is what I pray for all our children who profess faith in Christ, that they would trust Jesus at a young age and follow him all the days of their life). 

When we age our edges are often exposed. We tend to whither. The seasons of life that we have been through show up on our skin as it gets thinner. Sometimes our patience has diminished. We are more prone to speak our minds. Our bones and muscles wear out leaving us full of aches and pains. Sometimes we are prone to think our best years are in the rearview mirror (and I’m just speaking of being in your 40’s). Aging gracefully isn’t an easy enterprise. It takes lots of grace!

Regardless of your age, for the Christian, your growing isn’t done. There is still an abundant harvest of fruit in your life. It blesses every generation when the most senior among us still produces Godly character and points to Jesus. It is a blessing when the oldest and most weathered among us recount how God never fails. We are never done growing in Christ. 

Father, Your word is true and good. You are worthy of our praise from the cradle through eternity. Help us to age in a way that allows us to still bear fruit in our old age. As temptations take on different forms help us to recount the ways that you are faithful. May your church be blessed with many who are newly planted and many who are still bearing fruit in their old age. You are worthy. In Jesus Name, Amen.