Growing Old

This physical body of ours is not made to last for all eternity. When man sinned against God, the ground was cursed, producing thorns and thistles which symbolize the seeds of evil being sown. Jesus alluded to this in the parable of the tares among the wheat (Mt 13:24-30, 36-43). The sons of the evil one appear throughout history in the pages of Scriptures as well as in the mass media, beginning with Cain, who rose up to kill Abel his brother (Gen 4:8). Thus health and life in the idyllic Garden of Eden gave way to sickness and death. Man was forbidden to eat of the tree of life, lest he should live forever (Gen 3:24) and his life expectancy was capped at 120 years (Gen 6:3). The writer to the Hebrews affirmed the finiteness of human existence when he says, “It is appointed for men to die (physically) once and after that to face judgment (before God).” (Heb 9:27).


Old age brings with it its attendant health problems. The classic passage on growing old is found in Eccl 12:3-7 which says, “In old age, your body no longer serves you so well. Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen. The shades are pulled down on the world. You can't come and go at will. Things grind to a halt. The hum of the household fades away. You are wakened now by bird-song. Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past. Even a stroll down the road has its terrors. Your hair turns apple-blossom white, adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body. Yes, you're well on your way to eternal rest, while your friends make plans for your funeral. Life, lovely while it lasts, is soon over. Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends. The body is put back in the same ground it came from. The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it.” (The Message)

Sicknesses afflict both the righteous and the unrighteous inasmuch as rain falls on both groups (Mt 5:45). The godly king Hezekiah was struck with a terminal illness in the prime of his life (2 Kg 20) but had his life extended through intercessory prayers. The wicked king Herod was struck dead because he took in all the glory that was meant for God (Ac 12:22-23). We are told that the second coming of Christ would be preceded by famines and plagues in various places (Lk 21:11). When a body is subjected to harmful germs and viruses, and if the immunity is low, it would be naturally fall ill. Often times, medical intervention is needed to bring about healing and restoration of health. As believers in Christ, we can also turn to God for healing, recognizing that the great exchange took place at Calvary’s cross when Christ gave us His health for our sicknesses. By His wounds, we are healed both physically and spiritually (Is 53:5).

The psalmist declares that the righteous will flourish like the palm tree and will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green (Ps 92:12,14). Palm trees grow tall and straight, and are evergreen. It is a picture of strength, vitality and fruitfulness. So even though king Solomon paints a picture of the old losing strength and many bodily functions, we can still claim the promise of God through the psalmist, that the righteous will continue to grow old gracefully, with the strength that the Lord provides. Of course, this does not preclude the need for us to take care of our own health by exercising and watching our diet.  God has instituted natural laws to govern the earth; if we fail to obey them, we would have to face the consequences.