It is very good to be a child, because it is the phase of innocence. It is very good to be a teenager, because it is the phase in which we begin to discover the reality of life. It is also very good to be an adult, because we conquer our freedom. But what about being old? It must also be very good, after all, it is at that time that we discover the fullness of life. It is the phase in which the experiences brought great wisdom and God wants to use those people, even when they believe it is too late. See some examples of men who were used by God after reaching the "third age":
Noah: "Noah of six hundred years when the waters of the flood came upon the earth" (Genesis 7: 6);
Moses and Aaron: "Moses was eighty years old and Aaron was eighty-three, when they spoke to Pharaoh" (Exodus 7: 7);
Abraham: "Abram departed, as the Lord had commanded him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran" (Genesis 12: 4); "He was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born" (Genesis 21: 5).
I am surprised to see the willingness of these men to obey God and how much God cares for us until the last day of our lives. As I said, the old age is very good, but it can bring with it some physical and psychological wear, natural of old age. However, it is very sad to know that there are many people, even young people, who are spiritually "old" and have characteristics similar to those that reach a large part of the elderly. Consider the following:
Leg problem
Many believers like to sit comfortably on the pews of the church and do not want to get out of there for anything. To ask them to stand up and do something useful for the work of God is a waste of time, because they will always say that they can not because they have a list of "pains" that prevent them. But God expects us to strive to contribute to the body of Christ, like Paul: "Now I rejoice in what I suffer for you, and complete in my remaining body the afflictions of Christ in behalf of your body, which is the church "(Colossians 1:24).
Vision problem
This type of believer has a limited vision, and often seems to be blind. He does not like to leave the comfort zone and take steps of faith, because they are afraid of the unknown and do not trust that God will be with him in every decision. He prefers to stay where he is, and when he meets other brothers full of vision and dreams, he criticizes and tries to discourage them for not being able to accompany them. And according to the Bible, "blindness" is nothing more than a lack of faith: "Faith is the certainty of what is expected for, the conviction of what is not seen" (Hebrews 11: 1).
Deafness problem
The deaf believer is one who, no matter how much the pastor and the other leaders speak, does not pay attention, does not hear advice, exhortations and is always with closed ears for any word that is not pleasant. And the worst of all is that he got used to it and, although God speaks clearly with him clearly, he prefers not to hear. The Bible says that this problem of spiritual deafness would be very common in the last days: "For the time will come that they will not suffer the sound doctrine; otherwise, having itching to hear, according to their own join the teachers desires for themselves will turn their ears away from the truth and turn to fables "(2 Timothy 4: 3,4).
Problem with changes
The more years go by, the more a person is resistant to change. That is why it is so difficult to deal with the "old" believers of the church. Many of them do not help and still hinder those who want to do something new for the growth of God's work. They generate intrigues, gossip and contention among the brothers, simply because changes often give work - and that's all they do not want. God expects a different attitude from these people: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, and let nothing move. Always give yourselves in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your work is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Take care of your spiritual health
Just as in old age a lot of health care is necessary, believers need to take care so that, over the years, the problems of life do not shake their faith. The enemy of their souls will try to put sorrow, resentment, murmuring and all kinds of sin in their hearts. And to protect these attacks, the best way is to obey the teachings of the Word of God "strive to live in peace with all men and to be holiness, without which no one will see the Lord Take care that no one is Excluded from the grace of God, let no root of bitterness spring and cause trouble, contaminating many "(Hebrews 12: 14,15).