| Unless still living when Jesus returns, the flesh of | | | | with Almighty God. Why then did the one pass |
| every Christian shall die; and even in the event of | | | | with a trembling end while the other passed with |
| a living rapture, this current body will pass away. | | | | a vigorous end? |
| But for the chosen children of God, death is not | | | | |
| an issue. We know where we are going and | | | | King James Version - Deut 5:16. |
| that the end is but the beginning. There is, | | | | "Honour thy father and thy mother, as the thy |
| however, a time, if we live long enough, in which | | | | God hath commanded thee; that thy days may |
| old age accumulates within the human body. The | | | | be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in |
| Holy Spirit writes of men growing weak with | | | | the land which the thy God giveth thee." |
| darkened vision and few grinders, of fear of | | | | Scripture speaks of Jacob going to Padanaram in |
| heights, and of a limping walk. "Then shall the | | | | obedience to his parent's desire that he not take |
| dust return to the earth," He says. | | | | a wife from the daughters of Canaan. The Holy |
| Is this what has to be? Does old age demand | | | | Spirit also speaks of a time when Jacob |
| that we die broken and feeble? I lack full | | | | deliberately deceived his father. Now Moses |
| answers on this matter. My points here are | | | | sinned likewise, though not within the same vein. |
| musings rather than solutions. | | | | Honor of father and mother is the first |
| What is a biblical response to aging? | | | | commandment with a promise. |
| | | | | Is it possible that this direct sin against his father |
| Deuteronomy 34:7 (KJV). | | | | is what caused Jacob to pass away in the manner |
| " And Moses was an hundred and twenty years | | | | of natural flesh rather than in the manner of spirit |
| old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his | | | | and power? |
| natural force abated." | | | | I do not proclaim an answer here; I merely point |
| If I should go before the Lord returns, I would like | | | | out an observation. |
| that this truth be available to my gravestone. | | | | On my mother's side, my grandmother frail in |
| That old age should not rob my eyes of vision or | | | | body and mind lived long but suffered much. On |
| my body of vitality or my spirit of energy. That | | | | my father's side, my grandmother lived long, |
| strong praise and worship should carry me to the | | | | weak in flesh at the very end, but sharp of mind |
| end. This would be wonderful. | | | | until the exact moment of passing. Both loved |
| But as I review this scripture, a question begs | | | | God, of this I have no doubts. I wish that I |
| to be asked. Why Moses and not Israel? | | | | better knew their history. |
| | | | | Of one thing, I am certain, God expects us to |
| King James Version - Gen 48:10. | | | | honor our parents. I count no less than twenty |
| "Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so | | | | times that Holy Scripture makes clear this |
| that he could not see. And he brought them near | | | | statement. Dear children, there may be many |
| unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced | | | | biblical responses to the matter of aging, but |
| them." | | | | obedience to our parents is primary. |
| This is a strange thing that two men of God | | | | Why? |
| should be dealt with so differently. Both had a | | | | Those who dishonor their earthly parents likewise |
| ragged past. Neither could claim a life absence of | | | | disobey their heavenly Father. |
| sin. Each could speak of a personal encounter | | | | |