San Diego Clairemont Seventh-Day Adventist Church

Developing a loving relationship with Christ and our community

A Word to The Little Flock Part Twenty Four

Dear Followers Laborers in the Lord’s Vineyard:
You may feel as this COVID 19 virus continues that you are aging rather quickly, but take heart.
“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:30-31 KJV)
Los mancebos se fatigan y se cansan, los mozos flaquean y caen: Mas los que esperan á Jehová tendrán nuevas fuerzas; levantarán las alas como águilas, correrán, y no se cansarán, caminarán, y no se fatigarán. (Isaías 40:30-31 SRV)
“Even the youths shall faint and be weary”. There’s no denying that. But Isaiah is highlighting that with the passing of the years, we loose much of what we would like to keep.
We loose:
Our strength.
Our eye loses it’s sparkle.
Our dexterity.
Our good looks.
Miss America today will not be Miss America tomorrow.
But those who wait upon the Lord are promised renewed strength.
I’ve met some 70 year old seniors who were young at heart and some 17 year olds who were antiques.
John Quincy Adams at 80 was greeted on the streets of Boston, “God morning, Mr. Adams, how are you today?” “John Adams is quite all right, thank you. Of course, the house in which he lives is a bit dilapidated; its walls are tottering on their foundation; its roof is greatly in need of repair. I think he is soon going to have to move out of the old house into another not made with hands. But Mr. Adams is quite all right, thank you.”
“And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:13-18 NKJV)
Empero teniendo el mismo espíritu de fe, conforme á lo que está escrito: Creí, por lo cual también hablé: nosotros también creemos, por lo cual también hablamos; Estando ciertos que el que levantó al Señor Jesús, á nosotros también nos levantará por Jesús, y nos pondrá con vosotros. Porque todas estas cosas padecemos por vosotros, para que abundando la gracia por muchos, en el hacimiento de gracias sobreabunde á gloria de Dios. Por tanto, no desmayamos: antes aunque este nuestro hombre exterior se va desgastando, el interior empero se renueva de día en día. Porque lo que al presente es momentáneo y leve de nuestra tribulación, nos obra un sobremanera alto y eterno peso de gloria; No mirando nosotros á las cosas que se ven, sino á las que no se ven: porque las cosas que se ven son temporales, mas las que no se ven son eternas. (2 Corintios 4:13-18 SRV)
Is aging a disaster?
With Christ, it is a “light affliction... working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”.
You Tell Me I Am Getting Old
You tell me I am getting old.
I tell you that's not so!
The "house" I live in is worn out,
And that, of course, I know.
It's been in use a long, long while;
It's weathered many a gale:
I'm really not surprised you think
It's getting somewhat frail.
The color changing on the roof,
The windows getting dim.
The walls a bit transparent
And looking rather thin.
The foundation not so steady
As once it used to be-
My "house" is getting shaky,
But my "house" isn't me!
My few short years can't make me old.
I feel I'm in my youth.
Eternity lies just ahead,
A life of joy and truth.
I'm going to live forever, there;
Life will go on——it's grand!
You tell me I am getting old?
You just don't understand.
The dweller in my little "house"
Is young and bright and gay;
Just starting on a life to last
Throughout eternal day,
You only see the outside,
Which is all that most folks see.
You tell me I am getting old?
You've mixed my "house" with me!

“Fortunate are those who actually enjoy old age.”
Jewish Proverb
When you get too old for pimples you go right into wrinkles.
Old age is when action creaks louder than words.
A mischievous man walked up to an elderly woman and asked, "Lady, how old are you?" She indignantly replied, "Sir, my age is my business!" The man then countered, "Lady, it looks like you've been in business a long time."
An old-timer was asked what kind of plans he had for the future. The old man said, “Honey, at my age I don't even buy green bananas.”
“The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.” (Proverbs 16:31 KJV)
Corona de honra es la vejez, Que se hallará en el camino de justicia. (Proverbios 16:31 SRV)
“The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.” (Proverbs 20:29 KJV)
La gloria de los jóvenes es su fortaleza, Y la hermosura de los viejos la vejez. (Proverbios 20:29 SRV)
“Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing”. (Psalms 92:13-14 KJV)
Plantados en la casa de Jehová, En los atrios de nuestro Dios florecerán. Aun en la vejez fructificarán; Estarán vigorosos y verdes; (Salmos 92:13-14 SRV)
What are the marks of old age, that makes us infirm whether we are nine or ninety?
1. Staggering over trifles.
Solomon speaks of people being afraid of heights and finding a grasshopper to be a burden (Ecclesiastes 12:5).
Can you picture this poor one staggering under the weight of a grasshopper, as if he were Atlas with the whole world upon his shoulders.
If you are making mountains out of molehills, you are old, whether your birth certificate shows this or not.
2. Timidity.
“they are afraid of height” (Ecclesiastes 12:5).
Their spirit of adventure is dead.
This is no Caleb.
3. Glorifying the past at the expense of the present.
If for you all the good days have dropped into the sunset, then you are old.
Shakespeare wrote:
The lightning bug is brilliant,
But he has not any mind.
He blunders through existence
With his headlight on behind.
If your face is toward the past, you are old.
If you want to avoid getting old:
1. Keep interested in the life of today.
2. Wait on the Lord.
“they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:30-31 KJV)
Waiting here does not mean sitting idly, but to walk in faith, hope, and anticipation.
It is the holding of our emptiness up for the receiving of His fulness.
When Moses was 80 years old he saw a bush aflame, yet continue burning.
He once was on fire, but the fire has gone out, but this bush keeps on burning!
How could this be? It was because God was in it.
“he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27)
porque se sostuvo como viendo al Invisible. (Hebreos 11:27 SRV)
The following is Fortune magazine's description of Warren Buffet's dealings with the Blumkin family, prior to the family's splitting into competitive factions: The Blumkin family (or as Buffet refers to them, "the amazing Blumkins") meet for dinner every few weeks at an Omaha restaurant. The Blumkins attending usually include Louis, 68, and his sons: Ron, 39; Irv, 35; and Steve, 33. The matriarch of the family and chair of the Furniture Mart is Rose Blumkin, who emigrated from Russia as a young woman and started a tiny furniture store that offered rock-bottom prices. Her motto is "Sell cheap and tell the truth." She built this furniture store into a business that last year did $140 million in sales. At age 94, she still works seven days a week in the carpet department. Buffet says in his new annual report that she is clearly gathering speed and may well reach her full potential in another five or ten years. He goes on to say, "Therefore, I've persuaded the board to scrap our mandatory retirement-at-100 policy. And it's about time; with every passing year, this policy has seemed sillier to me." Buffet simply does not regard age as having any bearing on how well a person can perform a job. He says, "Good managers are so scarce I can't afford the luxury of letting them go just because they've added a year to their age."
Old age is a privilege.
You cannot buy it.
You cannot sell it.
You cannot earn it.
You cannot inherit it.
You cannot merit it.
So if you are fortunate enough to have it, for heaven's sake enjoy it; and do not complain about it.
Remember, if you were not old--you would be dead.
Andres Segovia, classical guitarist, is an example of a person who did not let his age prevent him from remaining active. He continued to tour and perform well into his nineties. Following two exhausting encores one night in after a performance in London, Segovia said to the crowd, "I would love to go on playing, but my guitar is tired."
‘They shall still bring forth fruit in old age, they shall be full of sap and green.’ Psalm 92:14
Aun en la vejez fructificarán; Estarán vigorosos y verdes; (Salmos 92:14 SRV)
Old age is generally much more disposed to talk about its past victories than to fight new ones; to rest upon its arms, or upon its laurels, than to undertake fresh conflicts.
“What we need now is Calebs, men who are faithful and true. Indolence marks the lives of too many at the present day. They turn their shoulders from the wheel just when they should persevere and bring all their powers into active exercise. Ministers of Christ, "awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Your labors taste so strongly of self that Christ is forgotten.” {Testimonies to the Church, 5:134}
When he was in his mid-80's, the great cellist Pablo Casals kept practicing his instrument for four or five hours each day. Someone once asked him why, at his age, he still worked so hard. "Because," he said, "I have a notion that I am making some progress."
Do you know anybody who is just living for the day who can retire and take it easy? Recent studies have been conducted by the insurance industry concerning retired military officers and businessmen who were looking forward to retiring and relaxing after thirty years of hard work. The results indicated that "just kicking back in retirement" leads to a funeral in four to seven years. Longevity requires a purposeful retirement with meaningful hobbies, ongoing relationships, and sustained involvement. The Psychology of Winning, Denis Waitley, 1984, p. 11
At age 71 an agent turned down Jack Benny thinking he was washed up. Jack found another agent and fulfilled twelve million dollars more in bookings before he died at the age of 81.
Moses was 80 when he led the people of Israel out and received the Law.
Aaron was 83 when he began to perform miracles and plagues in Egypt.
Joshua was 85 when he led Israel into the promised land.
Will Durant sold a series of television programs at the ripe young age of 91.
Frank Lloyd Wright created the magnificent Guggenheim Museum at 89.
Colonel Sanders was in his 60s when he sold his first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise.
You’re getting over the hill when most of your dreams are reruns.
A University of Wisconsin study says that if we are physically well, and keep active as we get older, we can enjoy people, laugh at ourselves, and get as much out of life at 90 as we could when we were 40!
The famous poet H. W. Longfellow was once asked how he managed a long and a happy life.
Pointing to an apple tree, the writer remarked: "The secret of the apple tree is that it grows a little new wood each year. That's what I try to do."
No matter what age you are, it is important to continue to grow spiritually each day, each month, each year. Such spiritual growth requires constant Bible study.
Why not start growing a little new wood now, by reading at least one chapter from the Bible each day? You will be blessed for it.

“And they returned from spying out the land after forty days. Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. Then they told him, and said: "We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan." Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight." So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?" So they said to one another, "Let us select a leader and return to Egypt." Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: "The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, 'a land which flows with milk and honey.' Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them."” (Numbers 13:25 - 14:9 NKJV)
(13-26) Y volvieron de reconocer la tierra al cabo de cuarenta días. (13-27) Y anduvieron y vinieron á Moisés y á Aarón, y á toda la congregación de los hijos de Israel, en el desierto de Parán, en Cades, y diéronles la respuesta, y á toda la congregación, y les mostraron el fruto de la tierra. (13-28) Y le contaron, y dijeron: Nosotros llegamos á la tierra á la cual nos enviaste, la que ciertamente fluye leche y miel; y este es el fruto de ella. (13-29) Mas el pueblo que habita aquella tierra es fuerte, y las ciudades muy grandes y fuertes; y también vimos allí los hijos de Anac. (13-30) Amalec habita la tierra del mediodía; y el Hetheo, y el Jebuseo, y el Amorrheo, habitan en el monte; y el Cananeo habita junto á la mar, y á la ribera del Jordán. (13-31) Entonces Caleb hizo callar el pueblo delante de Moisés, y dijo: Subamos luego, y poseámosla; que más podremos que ella. (13-32) Mas los varones que subieron con él, dijeron: No podremos subir contra aquel pueblo; porque es más fuerte que nosotros. (13-33) y vituperaron entre los hijos de Israel la tierra que habían reconocido, diciendo: La tierra por donde pasamos para reconocerla, es tierra que traga á sus moradores; y todo el pueblo que vimos en medio de ella, son hombres de grande estatura. (13-34) También vimos allí gigantes, hijos de Anac, raza de los gigantes: y éramos nosotros, á nuestro parecer, como langostas; y así les parecíamos á ellos. ENTONCES toda la congregación alzaron grita, y dieron voces: y el pueblo lloró aquella noche. Y quejáronse contra Moisés y contra Aarón todos los hijos de Israel; y díjoles toda la multitud: ¡Ojalá muriéramos en la tierra de Egipto; ó en este desierto ojalá muriéramos! ¿Y por qué nos trae Jehová á esta tierra para caer á cuchillo y que nuestras mujeres y nuestros chiquitos sean por presa? ¿no nos sería mejor volvernos á Egipto? Y decían el uno al otro: Hagamos un capitán, y volvámonos á Egipto. Entonces Moisés y Aarón cayeron sobre sus rostros delante de toda la multitud de la congregación de los hijos de Israel. Y Josué hijo de Nun, y Caleb hijo de Jephone, que eran de los que habían reconocido la tierra, rompieron sus vestidos; Y hablaron á toda la congregación de los hijos de Israel, diciendo: La tierra por donde pasamos para reconocerla, es tierra en gran manera buena. Si Jehová se agradare de nosotros, él nos meterá en esta tierra, y nos la entregará; tierra que fluye leche y miel. Por tanto, no seáis rebeldes contra Jehová, ni temáis al pueblo de aquesta tierra, porque nuestro pan son: su amparo se ha apartado de ellos, y con nosotros está Jehová: no los temáis. (Números 13:25 - 14:9 SRV)
“they are bread for us.”
“The bigger the giant, the bigger the loaf.”
Caleb and Joshua had seen all that the majority had seen, with this difference: the majority measured the giants against their own strength; Caleb and Joshua measured the giants against God. The majority trembled; the two triumphed. The majority had great giants but a little God. Caleb had a great God and little giants.
How wrong the Majority was!
Some people repeat the blasphemous maxim, “the voice of the people is the voice of God”, and few stand up against this.
Politicians vote with their party on things they don’t believe in.
Don’t go with the flow.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV)
Entrad por la puerta estrecha: porque ancha es la puerta, y espacioso el camino que lleva á perdición, y muchos son los que entran por ella. Porque estrecha es la puerta, y angosto el camino que lleva á la vida, y pocos son los que la hallan. (Mateo 7:13-14 SRV)
“According to your faith let it be to you.” (Matthew 9:29 NKJV)
Conforme á vuestra fe os sea hecho. (Mateo 9:29 SRV)
The people said, “We would rather die in the wilderness”.
God says, “You shall die.”
Caleb says, “We can well go in”.
God answers, “You shall go in.”
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31 NKJV)
¿Pues qué diremos á esto? Si Dios por nosotros, ¿quién contra nosotros? (Romanos 8:31 SRV)
“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18 KJV)
Y llegando Jesús, les habló, diciendo: Toda potestad me es dada en el cielo y en la tierra. (Mateo 28:18 SRV)
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37 KJV)
Antes, en todas estas cosas hacemos más que vencer por medio de aquel que nos amó. (Romanos 8:37 SRV)
“Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the LORD said to him: ‘You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed.’” (Joshua 13:1 NKJV)
Y SIENDO Josué ya viejo, entrado en días, Jehová le dijo: Tú eres ya viejo, de edad avanzada, y queda aún muy mucha tierra por poseer. (Josué 13:1 SRV)
“Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: "You know the word which the LORD said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God. So Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children's forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.' And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said." And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.” (Joshua 14:6-14 NKJV)
Y los hijos de Judá vinieron á Josué en Gilgal; y Caleb, hijo de Jephone Cenezeo, le dijo: Tú sabes lo que Jehová dijo á Moisés, varón de Dios, en Cades-barnea, tocante á mí y á ti. Yo era de edad de cuarenta años, cuando Moisés siervo de Jehová me envió de Cades-barnea á reconocer la tierra; y yo le referí el negocio como lo tenía en mi corazón: Mas mis hermanos, los que habían subido conmigo, menguaron el corazón del pueblo; empero yo cumplí siguiendo á Jehová mi Dios. Entonces Moisés juró, diciendo: Si la tierra que holló tu pie no fuere para ti, y para tus hijos en herencia perpetua: por cuanto cumpliste siguiendo á Jehová mi Dios. Ahora bien, Jehová me ha hecho vivir, como él dijo, estos cuarenta y cinco años, desde el tiempo que Jehová habló estas palabras á Moisés, cuando Israel andaba por el desierto: y ahora, he aquí soy hoy día de ochenta y cinco años: Pero aun hoy estoy tan fuerte como el día que Moisés me envió: cual era entonces mi fuerza, tal es ahora, para la guerra, y para salir y para entrar. Dame, pues, ahora este monte, del cual habló Jehová aquel día; porque tú oíste en aquel día que los Anaceos están allí, y grandes y fuertes ciudades. Quizá Jehová será conmigo, y los echaré como Jehová ha dicho. Josué entonces le bendijo, y dió á Caleb hijo de Jephone á Hebrón por heredad. Por tanto Hebrón fué de Caleb, hijo de Jephone Cenezeo, en heredad hasta hoy; porque cumplió siguiendo á Jehová Dios de Israel. (Josué 14:6-14 SRV)
45 years is a long time to wait for the fulfillment of a pledge.
“I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me”. This comes from laying hold of the power of God.
“He did not ask for himself a land already conquered, but the place which above all others the spies had thought it impossible to subdue. By the help of God he would wrest his stronghold from the very giants whose power had staggered the faith of Israel. It was no desire for honor or aggrandizement that prompted Caleb's request. The brave old warrior was desirous of giving to the people an example that would honor God, and encourage the tribes fully to subdue the land which their fathers had deemed unconquerable.”  {Patriarchs and Prophets 512, 513}
At the age of 85, when he might have asked for a quiet place to spend his last days raising some vegetables, he requested the unconquered section that had struck fear in the hearts of the 10 spies.
“Calebs have been greatly needed in different periods of the history of our work. Today we need men of thorough fidelity, men who follow the Lord fully, men who are not disposed to be silent when they ought to speak, who are as true as steel to principle, who do not seek to make a pretentious show, but who walk humbly with God, patient, kind, obliging, courteous men, who understand that the science of prayer is to exercise faith and show works that will tell to the glory of God and the good of His people. . . . To follow Jesus requires wholehearted conversion at the start, and a repetition of this conversion every day” (Letter 39, 1899).  {1BC 1113}
From Caleb’s story we learn:
1. It is possible for the greatest achievements to take place in old age.
2. There is no retirement in the service of God.
3. Christ is a Master who does not cast off His old servant.
He never does!
And He will not cast you off in the time of old age!
The Comforter will keep you.
The Risen Lord will empower you.
You shall possess the land.

May God bless and keep you in His care.
Pastor Richard Parent

 
 

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