By the time this perspective is written, my mother-in-law would have just undergone her first cataract surgery and preparing for another for her right eye in mid-August. Although cataract removal is generally safe and a relatively common procedure amongst the elderly, my mother-in-law needed some cajoling and assuring before she was agreeable to go under the knife.
Not only was she reluctant to heed the doctor’s advice on her eye’s condition, she was also of the opinion that surgery was unnecessary. She was rather adamant that despite her age (she turns 80 this year), she is still able to go about her daily activities without much difficulty.
The truth however, is that my wife has started to notice that she is having some issues with her eyesight. As a family, we were often worried that when she is outside, she may suffer a fall if she misses a step or misjudges the distance.
Whether we like it or not, my mother-in-law’s declining eyesight is but one of the many changes or shall I say, “undesirable losses” that we will all experience as we age. Even if one’s health does not go downhill before the Lord calls us home, our energy and concentration level would inevitably diminish over the years.
As much as we may try to delay muscle loss through targeted exercises and proper nutrition, we are unlikely to be as nimble or flexible than as we were before. While some can take it in their stride if one is medically certified as unfit to drive after turning 65 years old or facing a receding hairline, it would take far greater mental and emotional resilience to deal with the loss of privacy and dignity if one has mobility issues and requires assistance in his or her dressing, bathing and toileting.
The loss that some would experience would also include losing our memories if we develop dementia. One can only imagine how overwhelming and isolating an experience it must be when you are regularly confused about time or place and have trouble recalling events and recognising people whom you were familiar with.
This can all sound rather depressing unless as Christians, we learn to take heart that even though we may be outwardly wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16). Instead of feeling anxious over what may befall us despite our best attempts to stay healthy or despairing that our best years are behind us, any reminder of our mortality and limitations should spur us towards the giving of ourselves unto God and his kingdom purposes.
When we are cognisant of our limited days on earth, it would be foolish of us to be chasing after the wind and investing in things that will only leave our souls thirsting for more. Instead of succumbing to a worldly anti-ageing mindset and pouring our money and efforts into appearing and feeling young, we are to take heed of God’s call for us to be wise in numbering our days (Psalm 90:12). Whether we are deemed to be in our prime or have already past the age for CPF withdrawal, we are to consider how we can honour God through our words and deeds each day. There is always opportunity to bear fruit even in our old age (Psalm 92:14).
We may tire easily or have aching bodies but we are still precious unto God. As we learn to relinquish that which we cannot and should not cling unto in this life, we will discover that God’s grace and mercy is more than sufficient to sustain us amidst the challenges associated with old age (Isaiah 46:4).
We can echo the Psalmist in his prayer that “… even to old age and grey hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.” (Psalm 71:18). Notice the Psalmist’s request was not to prolong his life merely for his own sake. Instead, his desire was through his life, God and his glorious works may be made known to another generation.
Similarly, Apostle Paul pressed on in his Gospel ministry because he believed that God will sustain him even when life and ministry take a toll on him. Those light and momentary afflictions he suffered for the sake of the Gospel cannot be compared to the far more glorious and joyous eternity which he looks forward to receiving from his beloved Lord and Saviour (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
In addition, Paul has the assurance that not only is God showing forth his glory through his “weakness”, God is also working through those afflictions to bring forth spiritual vitality in Paul and preparing him for future glory.
Despite how threatening Paul’s afflictions may appear, they will not have the last word. Not when the Holy Spirit is enabling Paul to continue being a faithful witness while he still has breath. Not when in the age to come, the resurrected Christ will raise Paul along with other believers from the dead and welcome them into God’s holy presence.
Regardless of how our capacities may diminish over time and no matter how much we have accomplished or may have left undone, Christians can take heart that “To live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Because of what Jesus has accomplished through his death and resurrection, the effects of ageing which eventually results in death is but only a passing shadow.
Indeed, thanks be to God as we age, it is not as if we will only keep on suffering losses. By God’s mercies, there is also much we can and will gain with regards to conforming to God’s will for us. For example, the Bible states that the elderly are to be honoured for their wisdom and experience (Job 12:12, Proverbs 16:31).
Since God has something good in store for his people only as we age, let us then not dread ageing as though it is some plague to be avoided. May we instead seek to walk by faith alongside other believers, encouraging each other that we are almost home.
