A Perfect Verse For Aging
By David Ettinger
Alas
At 64 and a grandfather, I’m still in very good shape, but nowhere as I used to be. Though I’m still slim and exercise regularly, I’ve had quite a few medical setbacks, as have most of my blogging friends over a certain age.
Another thing that goes with age is the dying of people – all kinds of people. It’s amazing how many admired athletes, actors, and musicians from my youth are no longer with us. And even worse, I’m now at the time of life when some of the friends I graduated high school with in 1975 are departing this world.
Alas, age gets all of us in one way or another.
The Comfort
Of course, the comfort in all of this is that back in 1986 at the age of 28 I gave my life to Jesus Christ. In so doing, I accepted His free gift of salvation and was granted citizenship in Heaven when my time on this earth is over.
But until that day arrives, I will continue to deteriorate physically, and no doubt mentally. Of course it won’t be fun, but I know that the Lord will be with me every step of the way. Even to the end of my earthly journey, I know that God will be my rock and my shelter.
It’s all beautifully summed up in a lovely verse, Psalm 73:26, and should serve as a beacon of hope and encouragement for all of us who are feeling the wear and tear of our advancing years. It goes like this:
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
May these gracious words uplift us, for though the body fails, the Lord allows our spirits to soar in Him. He indeed is our portion forever!
David Ettinger was born and raised in a Jewish family in New York. After moving to New Mexico as an adult, he suffered through many trials. The nudge of the Holy Spirit caused him to examine his heart and in 1986 he surrendered his life to Jesus and has walked with Him ever since.
David holds a BA, and MA, in English from New Mexico State University. He began his journalism career writing for The Roundup, the university paper. After graduation he became the sportswriter for the El Paso Times. He has held many other positions as both writer and editor with major publications.
David is active in providing his skills with Zion’s Hope, Inc., in Winter Garden, Florida. His publications include Lifeway publications, Single Parent magazine (Focus on the Family), Zion’s Fire magazine, and Real Life magazine. In addition, he served as managing editor for Zion’s Fire and Real Life. David’s book, Overcomers: 30 Stories of Triumph from the Bible, is available online.
David is proud of his son and grandson.
Please read his testimony here:
You may follow David on Facebook, or his website.
CGM wishes to thank Steve Buissinne from Pixabay for graciously granting permissiion to use our feature photo.
Psalm 73:26 is really a great one! So encouraging to us “older” folks! Thanks! It’s true that our bodies do age, but inside our spirit is the same. We can continue to be useful for whatever time we have on this earth. Eating right and exercising can help to maintain a physical usefulness. Knowing and living the Scriptures can help us to maintain a spiritual usefulness. From what I can see of older friends and relatives, once you give up, things go down hill. We just can’t give up. For me, it’s hard to stay relevant in a world that I don’t really recognize. It’s an effort to stay up on computer knowledge, news and, perhaps most difficult, spiritual trends in young people. It’s hard to understand what young people (either religious or not) are feeling and to know how to help them, but I think everyone except the most hardened loves to feel God’s love from another human being.
well said!