BEARING FRUITS IN OLD AGE

Text: Psalm 92:12-14.

To bear is to bring forth, or to produce. It is to bring people to Christ. Old age is assumed to begin above sixty five years. The Bible often uses the fruits we bear to describe the product of our lives. The fruits here are souls that we impact positively and assist spiritually to remain and abide in Christ. To bear fruits is to labour for the harvest of lost souls and to make sure these souls remain and abide in Christ. It is doing the work in the service of God as stipulated in the Bible and living to save and bless men. It is by loving, caring, doing good, serving others with love, being full of good works and being a very good role model to others especially the younger ones to emulate.

God's desire is to transform us into the image of Christ in character and in good works and to make us fruitful even till our old age. "They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;" Ps 92:14.

The aged men are expected to be sober, brave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity and in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things. They are to teach the younger women sound doctrines and encourage them to be in faith and remain in faith and teach them to be morally good. In other words, there are roles to play in old age. Old age is a blessing from God and the golden years must be spent profitably and wisely making the best out of it. We are encouraged because God promised to sustain us at old age. "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you."Isa 46:4b.  Old age does not mean one should become gloomy but be involved in the kingdom work and be relevant. You don't retire from serving the LORD.  It is not like the secular job or work where you retire at the age stipulated by the employer.  As long as God enables you, keep growing in Christ and keep serving. Each day we live is an opportunity to do more of his service.  No wonder the psalmist says in Ps 71:18, "Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come."

To be able to bear fruits in old age one has to abide in Christ and cling onto him permanently. Jesus said in Jn 15:4-5, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." So the first condition  is to abide in Christ and cling to him as this will make you stay intimately connected to the true vine and derive all that you need to be productive and fruitful.

Desire to bear fruits and work towards it. Meditate on the word of God regularly and be knowledgeable and keep increasing in the knowledge of God. Be ready to labour for the harvest of souls.  Be steadfast in godliness. Be filled with the Holy Spirit  and walk in the spirit, the more filled you are  the more evident of the fruit in you. Be committed  to prayer as this will transform you and enable you to communicate with God and receive from him. Shun the lusts of the flesh so that you will not be discouraged and you won't grow weary.

Old age is associated with wisdom. Use your godly wisdom to affect lives positively. To be fruitful in old age does not just happen overnight. It is a process that starts from youth. It takes a lot of hard work and commitment of many years in his service to get to the level of being fruitful at old age. It is like planting a seed  and nourishing it to grow, it matures and flourishes and then produces fruits. Therefore, one needs to be committed, be steadfast, be dogged and be ready to persevere.

Be determined to spend your golden years for being productive and fruitful. Living for Christ and being attached to him. But if by any means you have not being involved, it is not too late. Desire it and get involved and through Christ who strengthens, you will be able to. It will be a good choice to make.

In the Bible, Moses and Aaron received God's command at ages eighty and eighty three years respectively to appear before Pharaoh to demand the freedom of the Israelites. Ex 7:7.

At the age of eighty four years Anna, a prophetess and widow who never departed from the temple, served God with fasting and prayers night and day. She was always giving thanks unto the Lord, and spoke of him (Jesus)  to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Lk 2:36-38. You too can be relevant and useful at old age. There is no age barrier in serving the Lord and bearing fruits.

In this age of technology you can use different media to get in touch with people especially with a cell phone by sharing  the word with them, spreading the good news, encouraging  and lifting them up  with prayers and admonishing them. Also by giving, by sharing and by spending time and associating with souls are good ways of bearing fruits. On your part, be worthy of emulation, be of good character and be a good ambassador of Christ.

When those you are affecting positively are growing in the  Lord and are abiding in Christ, you will be joyful, you fill fulfilled and fruitful. Then eternally the crown promised those who bear fruits for the kingdom will be reserved for you. The aged are being admonished to spend their golden years gracefully and bear fruits for the kingdom.

Prayer.

Father, it is your desire to satisfy me with long life and also to bear fruits in old age. Grant me the grace to live long till ripe old age and to bear much fruits for the kingdom in Jesus' name I pray. Amen