Forever…Young

Tom Barnard

 

“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers

in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.”

(1 Timothy 4:12 NLT)

 

“You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old

as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair. In the central place of your heart

there is a wireless station. So long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, grandeur,

courage and power from the earth, from men, and from the Infinite, so long you are young.

When the wires are all down and the central places of your heart are covered with the

snow of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then are you grown old, indeed.”

Samuel Ulman, (1840-1924), in “Youth”

 

Sam was right. We are as young as our faith, not as old as we feel. Our feelings are governed by things beyond our control. But our faith is something about which we have a choice. If we allow doubt to enter into our belief system, we suddenly become like the description Ulman gave in this paragraph—“old indeed.” On the other hand, if “beauty, hope, cheer, grandeur, courage and power” characterize our attitude toward life, we will retain our youth for as long as we live. But if we allow the “wires” in our internal recording system to fall into “the snow of pessimism and the ice of cynicism,” call the local mortician. It’s over.

 

The growth process never really stops, even if we convince ourselves that we are too old or too poor or too dumb to accomplish anything important in life. The “wireless station” within keeps receiving signals that are new and fresh. Denying this will retard our growth; accepting it with thanks opens up all kinds of fresh opportunities to contribute to society in some positive ways.

 

Pierre Jean “Buster” Martin says he is Britain’s “oldest employee.” He claims to be 102 years old. He works as a van cleaner for a plumbing company in southeast London. But that is not his most notable achievement. In 2007 he ran (walked, actually) in the London Marathon. To prove it was no hoax, he repeated the achievement in 2008, completing the 26-mile course in approximately 10 hours. If his claims about his age are true, he could be the oldest recorded marathon participant in the world. He doesn’t train; he just runs.

 

Not a bad idea for Christians, young or old. Just run. Stay in shape. Don’t ever “retire.” Follow the advice Paul wrote to his young friend, Timothy: “Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” It’s never too late to be young.

 

Heavenly Father, sometimes I think it’s time to turn over what I do to those younger than I am. They look so fresh, so smart, so healthy. I look at myself in the mirror and ask, “Isn’t it time to act your age?” But, Lord, you didn’t call me to establish an annuity. You called me to establish a legacy. You called me to follow you wherever you lead. I want to keep doing that until the day you call me Home. Lift my sights to the vision you have for me and the people out there who need to enter the same race I am running. In the strong name of Jesus I pray. Amen.