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The Evil Days
By George Stroh
December 13, 2021
Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the year's draw near when you will say, "I have no delight in them".
(Ecclesiastes 12:1)
It doesn't seem possible, but I did the math and, sure enough, I'll soon be 77 years old. It feels like I went from middle age to senior citizen in just one year. The good news is that in a couple of more years I will be old enough to be President of the United States.
Solomon, the writer of Ecclesiastes, warns us about the physical deterioration that happens to all of us as we get older; Before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain (older age brings various and increasing physical issues); In the day that the watchman of the house tremble, and mighty men stoop (arms and legs get weaker); The grinding ones stand idle because they are few (thank God for dentists); And those those who look through windows grow dim (cataracts and other vision problems); and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly (hearing loss and problems sleeping). Furthermore, men are afraid of a high place and terrors on the road (decreased physical confidence and courage); the almond tree blossoms (I'm just thankful to still have some hair, even if it resembles white blossoms); the grasshopper drags himself along (unsteady and limping); And the caperberry is ineffective (think Viagra). For man goes to his eternal home while mourners go about in the street. (Yes, if the Lord tarries, physical death is the inescapable result of getting older. (Ecclesiastes 12:2-5)
As they say, "Getting older is not for cowards". There are, however, some advantages to getting older. As Solomon writes; For whoever is joined with all the living there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion. (Ecclesiastes 9:4) While we are still here, we have more opportunities to trust and serve the Lord, earning additional eternal rewards. And, as well as growing older, hopefully we grow a little wiser through our life experiences and seeing God's amazing grace and mercy.
As Christians, the best thing about getting older is that we are much closer to going home to our Lord, receiving new glorified bodies and enjoying eternal life with Him; Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:7) So I praise the Lord for 77 years of life on earth and 47 years of new life in Christ Jesus. Maranatha!
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