There they were again! Three big old snapping turtles lounging in the pond. For an hour, there was virtually no movement. The sun’s rays were warming their backs. Except for a periodic dive for some plant food or an occasional minnow, they did nothing. All movements were slow. I watch them most days as I pass by on a brisk walk to get my blood moving in the morning and then see them if I traverse the path late in the day.
I thought about the life of some older people. Often there is no particular aim in life that is apparent. Schedules are easy with periodic vacations among times at home to enjoy the “castle” and good food. The occasional visit from friends or relatives livens up the daily routines, but otherwise it’s a human equivalent of the turtles in the pond.
Is that really all there is or all to look forward to?
There is another life that is possible for disciples of Christ, and I have several older friends that show it. They, like my wife and I, don’t have the energy of someone thirty years younger, but they have found ways to be active disciples. One writes missionaries and prays for many of them during each day. Another couple writes little tracks and gets them to prisons and first responders. Another went back to school and counsels hurting people from a biblical perspective. Another group of older ladies work in vegetable gardens and help run an agri-tourism center along with ministry activities. Almost all of these continue daily devotions, attend church gatherings, and have homes or facilities where they welcome other people. Others I know spend hours per week on social media interacting with young people or missionaries overseas to encourage them, then they finds ways to assist them with small gifts when problems arise.
So, it is possible to do more than bask like turtles in a pond with nothing else to do. How do I know it is possible other than the examples? Because it is biblical. There is no time limit on being fruitful in a biblical sense. The process in 2 Peter 1 has no age limit. The sheep and the goats division in Matthew 25 has no age limit. The latter is a picture of believers with lifestyles so fruitful over time that they could not recall all the “little ones” they had affected.
If you are an older believer, don’t be like the turtles in the summer pond. Be active in Christ and be fruitful.
2 Peter 1:5-10 (ESV) 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
Matthew 25:35-39 (ESV) 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and cloth you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
