We know
we’re getting older when we say things like, “Can you believe how young those
professional baseball players are?” And it’s a sure sign of aging when we no
longer ask, “How are you?” but say, “Hey, you look terrific”—as if we’re
surprised.
Aging is
inevitable. Unfortunately, society has taught us to fear advancing age and to
disguise its reality as much as possible. But aging can actually be a wonderful
thing. Followers of Jesus have the capacity to get significantly better with
age. As Paul put it: “Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward
man is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16).
Just as
there are physical signs that reveal we’re getting older, there are signs that
show we are getting better. Rather than becoming more crotchety, intolerant,
and unloving, the maturing follower of Jesus grows better at forgiving, loving,
and caring. Growing older is a continuation of the journey to become more like
Jesus, which means that as time goes on our heart and attitudes should
increasingly resonate with and reflect the compelling character and winsome
ways of our Savior.
So as we grow older, let’s embrace the opportunity to become spiritually more like Jesus.
Our friends will notice that we look better with age. (RBC)
