As we get older, the time appears to go by at a faster rate than it did when we were younger.  Don’t you agree?  It seems that the weeks fly by and the seasons are hardly here long enough to enjoy.  Eight hours of sleep isn’t enough anymore.  There’s a need for some kind of rest or nap during the day.  What happens to us?  After a certain age do we enter some kind of time warp?  We find ourselves saying things like…

“Where did the time go?”  

“I can’t believe how fast that week passed.” 

“Is it Christmas already?  What happened to summer?”

How should we to respond to this warped sense of time?  Are we to hang up the towel and just sit down to watch it speed past us?  The answer is a resounding “NO!”  As Followers of Christ, we have a job to do even if we have to do it in the time warp.

The Scriptures are the Words of God.  They are alive and active according to Hebrews 4:12.  As we read the Scriptures, God speaks to us through them.  He gives us direction and insight from the Word by the power of His Spirit.  Does He have something to say about getting older?  Of course He does!

“So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”  Psalm 71:18

There is a purpose for those who are older and that’s to tell the next generation about God.  We should take pleasure in that.  We CAN do this because we have experienced God at work over the course of time.  The time that seems to fly by now is still filled with God’s work in our lives.  The next generation needs to hear from us.  They need to benefit from the experiences through which God has walked with us, whether good or hard.  It’s good to share these with the next generation so that they will put their trust in God to get them through life.  As we do keep in mind a few things.

1. We need to bring honor to God and not ourselves. 

It’s so easy to look back on life and think we did it!!  Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:26a, “Let us not become conceited…”.  Our job is not to bring attention to ourselves, but only to God.

2. We are not to judge the younger generation because they are not doing it our way.

This is also easy to do.  At times our mindset can be one of the “good old days” so that we think our way was best.  We begin to use our opinion to influence the younger generation.  BUT that is not our job!  We are to bring attention to God not ourselves.

3. Listen well.

This one is hard for us as we get older because we think we know.  We know what the younger generation is thinking.  We know the answers we need to give.  We know what we think is right and want to correct them.  But we are to listen well to the younger generation.  Why?  Because we might learn something; that’s why!  We may be old but we are not all knowing.  Sometimes there are younger people who are more mature spiritually than we are.  Listen and learn.

4. Build relationships.

You may think you don’t have anything in common with the younger generation but that is never true.  As Followers of Christ we are all saved sinners walking through life seeking to honor God.  We may be in different seasons of life but bridges can connect the different seasons resulting in glory to God.

Yes, as we age, time appears to be going at a faster rate, but that is wonderful because we are closer to the finish line.  However, until we cross that finish line, God wants us to be a vital part of sharing the Word about Him to the younger generation.  We are not finished yet.  So how do we get involved with the younger generation?

1. Speak to them.  This sounds like it’s too simple, but the truth is we are afraid to cross that age gap.  When was the last time you spoke to a high school student?  It’s important to bridge that gap.  Don’t wait for the younger to approach you!  Be obedient to the Word and build that bridge!
2. Invite them over to your home. This may sound like meddling, but hospitality is not just for our friends or those our age.  It is for the body.  Be purposeful and invite those of the younger generation to your home.
3. Join a mixed age small group or Bible study. We probably don’t have enough of this type of thing going on, but we could start it.  Look for those opportunities to blend in with other ages.

Old?  Gray haired? (visible or covered…J)  You are not finished!  God has a job for you on this journey.  As we get closer to the finish line, let’s be more intentional about making this fleeting time count for the glory of God!!