Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 196, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 August 1918 — Growing Old [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Growing Old

By REV. L.W. GOSNELL

Aaaiatant Dean, Moody Bibl* Institute. Chicago

TEXT—PauI the aged.—Philemon 9. Old age Is dreaded by some. True, the physical man may decay; the keep-

ers of the house may tremble, the strong men bow themselves, the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened. But in spite of all this, “Paul the Aged” ill us t rates the blessedness which may accompany a Christian old age. Doctor Cuyler at Fourscore. Notice how

cheerful he was. The Epistle to the Philippians was written In his latter years and from prison, yet its watchword is, Rejoice. Dr. Theodore Cuyler In his autobiography, “Memories of Eighty Years,” says: “There are some, people -who have a pitiful dread of old age. For myself, Jpstead of It being a matter of sorrow or pain, it is rather an occasion of profound joy that God has enabled me to write in my family record, ‘Four Score Years’. The October of life may be one of the most fruitful months in all its calendar; and the ‘lndian summer’ Its brightest period when God’s sunshine kindles every leaf on the tree with crimson and golden glories.” Notice how sympathetic Paul was when old. Shakespeare declares, “Crabbed age and youth canot live together,” but Paul managed It. He delighted in young life and had Mark and Titus and Timothy about him. What a secret of perpetual youth! Some Accomplishments of the Aged. Then, too, this aged man was busy. We understand the feeling of John Wesley which led him to pray, “Lord let me not live to be useless.” We recall that Michael Angelo did his greatest work at sixty-seven and at ninety was an eager student and cried, “O for another hundred years!” “Paradise Lost” was written by Milton a few years before his death in old age. Paul was busy with his writing. It was just at this time he wrote to Philemon, calling himself “Paul the Aged,” that he sent forth his most glorious epistles—Ephesians, Philippians, Colosslans. Many aged people by writing letters of Christian counsel or cheer might make their last days wondrously fruitful. If they can no longer write with comfort, they may send forth printed pages like leaves of healing. Paul was busy with his reading. He blds Timothy bring to him, while imprisoned shortly before his death, his books and parchments (2 Tim. 4:13). What an opportunity age affords to browse at will in our libraries. The books we have longed to read for years may then be enjoyed. And how rich they become in the light of the experience of life! Especially, “What glory gilds the sacred page.” Paul was busy praying. Truly, he prayed without ceasing and especially In old age, spent so largely In prison. So long as this ministry is open; no one need feel he has outlived his usefulness. Indeed, it is the very ministry neglected by those bearing the burden and heat of the day. How the Lord seeks for intercessors! Paul was busy with his preaching. True he was In prison, but he preached to his guards. So that throughout the Praetorian Guard Christ became known (Phil. 1:13 R. V.). We are reminded of such an Invalid as Bella Cooke, confined to her room for years; but her bedside became a Bethel to thousands. The aged may be “Christian conversationalists” and may rival clergymen in their usefulness. Finally, Paul was hopeful. “The time of my departure Is at hand,” he says, and he knows that “to depart Is to be with Christ.” As one has put It, not a space, but only a line, separates between the believer and his Lord. “A Christian old age may be like the polar midsummer days, when the sun shines till midnight; and dips but for an Imperceptible interval ere it rises for the unending day of heaven.” May an Old Man Be Saved? Nothing Is more pitiable than the case of an old person who is without hope. But such a person need not so continue. Gypsy Smith loves to tell how his gypsy uncle was converted at the age of ninety-nine. “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12.) You need not wait for some strange feeling or wonderful experience. If you will humbly receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you shall be saved! You may come late Into the vineyard and expect but little, but who knows what the Lord of the vineyard may do (cf. Matt 20:1-16)? We beard of one converted late In life who departed full of joy, exclaiming, “I shall have my penny!” ,