FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

By Garry Lovette, Senior Editor

“For Such a Time as This”

Seems lately I’m being bombarded with countless individuals and couples who are in their 50’s & 60’s. Their burning question seems to be, “What am I supposed to do with the rest of my life?’

It is a question that has plagued modern man since he started living 70-100 years on this earth. The question is asked, “What can God do with me now that I’m older? Have I missed my opportunity to do something wonderful for God?” The answer is an emphatic “NO!” God is not anywhere close to being through with you.

As I approach the wonderful age of 50, I’m convinced now more than ever that my best years are ahead. Someone once said that you didn’t really get any “sense” until you were over 40. If that is true, then after 10 years of having a little “sense”, I should be able now to do something substantial for the Kingdom of God!

There are examples throughout the Bible where God prepared people their entire lives to accomplish something much later in life. (e.g.- Moses, Abraham, Elisha). In more modern times, there are countless others who God spent decades molding them into the man or woman that he could finally use in their later years. (e.g. – Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, Helen Keller).

With all of these fine examples of what God can do with someone later in life, then why do so many feel empty and wasted once they get to “middle age” and beyond? Perhaps it can be best summed up my saying that the enemy of our souls would like nothing better than to discourage and defeat this valuable band of warriors. He knows that if this generation really begins to see their full potential in Christ, then his days are truly numbered.

We might never be the next Billy Graham or Mother Teresa, or we might just be. What’s important is that we offer ourselves up as living sacrifices, even if we’re not physically able to leave our homes. We can certainly pray, and believe me, there is an entire generation of young people just begging for spiritual guidance and leadership in this dark world.

There is such an urgent need in the modern-day church for spiritual mothers and fathers. Since so many of our youth have been raised in single parent homes, the need is critical in some cases. Throw in the “lock-key” kids (Kids that have to come home to an empty house every afternoon because both parents have to work), and you can really see why there is a real need for mentoring.

Many of the people that I’ve spoken with lately that feel this way simply feel like that they aren’t needed anymore. Maybe their church has grown in a way that they don’t feel like what they have to offer is as important anymore. (Pastor, it would be great to let the older folks know that they are really needed, and make sure that they always have something to do. Everyone needs to fell needed.)

So with that said, it is high time to stop whining and complaining because of what you haven’t done, and get to work for God to show the devil that you still have a future, and that you are a force to be reckoned with. If everyone over 50 would get that attitude, there would be no limit as to what we could accomplish through Christ.