“Even to your old age I am he, and to grey hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.” Isaiah 46:4
There are those within this congregation who have walked the path of the pilgrim for many, many years. Some are now in their 70’s, some in their 80’s and even a few in their 90’s! And day in and day out, year after year, they have sought to faithfully serve the Lord to the best of their ability. And yet they would certainly testify to the reality that “our outer self is wasting away.” (2 Cor. 4:16) Old age often brings with it increased physical pain, and decreased mobility. Add to that fact, many suffer from loneliness and discouragement and the heartaches that this world may bring; and perhaps even a change of address from a home to a nursing home!
And yet God comes to you this morning, dear senior believer, and he says to you, “Even to your old age I am he, and to grey hairs I will carry you.” In contrast to the gods of this world who need to be carried around, God comes through the prophet Isaiah and says, “I will carry you.” One translation beautifully renders this verse: “I will still be carrying you when you are old. Your hair will turn grey, and I will still carry you. I made you, and I will carry you to safety.” The God of love has carried you all of your life, and he is still carrying you into old age. And your faithfulness to Him in spite of the difficulties of old age, is a testimony to the generations following! Your commitment to the Lord is as a beacon in the darkness of this world, calling, inspiring and cheering each one of us on to greater faithfulness on our pilgrim’s path. And we thank God for you!
Notice, finally, the Lord promises to carry you to safety!!! This world is not your home. You are but a pilgrim on a journey to a glorious, celestial city!!! May all of us increasingly remember our seniors and shut-ins in our prayers, that God would be pleased to give them much grace in the home-stretch of their life’s journey!