King James Version
25 I have been young, and now am old;
yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken,
nor his seed begging bread.
Are you afraid of getting old?
Or are you already old, and getting afraid?
In April 2024, we've written about the various generations:
That means, the Greatest generation, the Silent generation, the Baby boomers, and Generation X, are the aged, and aging population all over the world right now.
Cats normally have nine lives, but humans don't.
Never believe anyone who claims they're immortal.
We don't have such luxury.
Lucky are those who have aged gracefully; not heavily.
Lucky are those who remain cheerful; not grumpy.
Lucky are those who are in good health; and not ill health.
But blessed are those who have given their lives to GOD, in service to the LORD, and to others.
Most blessed are those who followed JESUS' command to be "born of water and of the Spirit".
They are unfazed by old age.
They only care to follow His commands.
Because they know that life is but a "vapor":
James 4:14
King James Version
14 Whereas ye know not
what shall be on the morrow.
For what is your life?
It is even a vapour,
that appeareth for a little time,
and then vanisheth away.
They know how to grow old gracefully, through GOD's GRACE.
They give thanks to the LORD all the time.
They have enough wisdom to know everything goes according to GOD's plan.
And that all happen for a reason, mostly known only to GOD.
But when you're born again, you begin to truly understand.
Only because the HOLY SPIRIT teaches you about JESUS, and Scripture.
We can understand heavenly things, through JESUS, the SON of GOD.
As JESUS declared:
John 3:12-14
King James Version
12 If I have told you earthly things,
and ye believe not,
how shall ye believe,
if I tell you of heavenly things?
The mature born again looks forward to the Rapture.
He knows it can happen any time GOD wills/wants it.
And then believers all meet JESUS up in the clouds.
Oh, what a glorious day that would be for believers, both the living and the dead!
Who would envy cats with nine lives, when the believer gets eternal life with JESUS.
Believers know their "citizenship" is in heaven.
Would any sane person want to be anywhere else, but with JESUS?
2 Corinthians 5:8
King James Version
8 We are confident, I say,
and willing rather to be absent from the body,
and to be present with the Lord.
Through the Cross, JESUS conquered sin, death, and the devil:
1 Corinthians 15:55-57
King James Version
55 O death, where is thy sting?
O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin;
and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God,
which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 2:14
King James Version
14 Forasmuch then as the children
are partakers of flesh and blood,
he also himself likewise took part of the same;
that through death he might destroy him
that had the power of death,
that is, the devil;
Sure, humans are but flesh.
Subject to ails, aches, and pains.
But we have JESUS, "The MAGNIFICENT Healer".
We only need to call on the LORD, that we may be saved.
Romans 10:13
King James Version
13 For whosoever shall call
upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved.
Saved from what?
Perhaps, people don't realize we need to be saved from our sins.
Sin causes physical, and spiritual death.
Many of our aches, and pains -- even diseases -- are caused by a malevolent "spirit of infirmity".
Sin can distort our face, bodies, minds, souls, and spirit.
Well, we have JESUS to save us, only if we cared to know more about Him, and the POWER He has.
Once you walk with JESUS, and walk in the SPIRIT, things become clear.
You become a new person, even if you're an "old" person.
2 Corinthians 5:17
King James Version
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature:
old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
You lose your fears.
You don't lose your tears.
But your tears are more meaningful now.
You grieve over your sins, and how you've hurt others.
You grieve at how you've displeased GOD, now that you know His laws.
You have tears of joy, at how much GOD loves you, in giving you His SON, to save us from our sins.
JESUS asked believers carry our own "cross", too.
Luke 9:23
King James Version
23 And he said to them all,
If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily,
and follow me.
That's what aging gracefully means.
We thank GOD for everything.
We become grateful.
Be like a contented cat.
A graceful, old cat, whose lived his years.
He may have lost his feisty playfulness, but he hasn't lost that grace.
Let our souls be as limber as ever.
Ephesians 2:8
King James Version
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:
Related material:
Image: Two Cats. Lithograph by Thomas Hunter, 1881. (Library of Congress)
.jpg)
.jpg)