How are you aging?
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16, New American Standard Bible)
I want to ask you to think about something before reading today’s post.
I want you to consider your life. If there was a life rating system of 1 to 10, with 1 being not good at all and 10 being the best you could imagine, how would you rate your physical being?
You may give yourself low ratings if you aren’t doing very well physically. Maybe you have ailments, either minor or major. Maybe your age is catching up with you and you can’t go as long or strong as you remember from your past.
Could be your rating is low because of your mental faculties. You might find yourself wondering which way to go at a certain intersection, when you’ve done it easily before. I’ve had that happen before and it’s scary.
Or, it might be that your ability to hear, see, or smell is waning. Your hands aren’t as steady. Certain foods aren’t as tasty. Or in my case, some foods don’t taste the same and some don’t sit as well once I’ve eaten.
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4 that when we’re comparing ourselves against our past, we should not lose hope. Yes, we’re getting older and with that comes the things we often expect when we view others—”Of course that is what happens when you age. Everyone knows that and expects it,” but, not when we view ourselves. Those signs of maturing may surprise us, causing us to deny them or wonder if something is out of place.
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.”
Though our bodies age, our renewing through Christ does not. Paul experienced pain and suffering throughout his life as a Christian, his body surely breaking more with each beating or imprisonment. He is encouraged because God’s mercy and grace, through the gift of His Son, outweighed his pain, carrying him to the end.
If you are on the younger side of life you may not feel some of these aging inevitabilities. But, you may find yourself discouraged just the same. Don’t lose heart. Rely on the inner person, who can be strengthened by God.
Oh, and what does Bridges Barbecue have to do with this post? Bridges offers some of the best barbecue I’ve ever eaten. There’s some age on this photo. I checked their website and found they are still open and the sign now says ‘specializing in barbecue for 70 years’. I don’t get there very often, as they are a pretty good drive away, but in this discussion of aging and our bodies decaying, Bridges has aged pretty well.
Does thankfulness for what God has done for you help with the aches and pains? Let me know.
Oh Tim, this post really touched my heart. It’s so easy to look back at the way things “used to be” and become discouraged if we compare “then” to “now.” We can certainly learn from Paul in that respect. As you said, his body was breaking down, but he was being renewed daily in his spirit because of the work of Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Isn’t it amazing that we have that same opportunity? Thanks for a fabulous reminder of the gift we’ve been given.
Thank you Terri. It’s amazing how we as individuals are at certain points in our lives, and God’s Word speaks to each situation, personally and corporately. We may all feel like we are running down, so God encourages us with Scripture that reminds us of who we are and who He is. Then, in addition to that general revelation, He looks into our hearts and sees that we need a special dispensation of love, peace, comfort, or whatever, as we deal with things going on in our lives. Special prayers for you.