Over 55 - and zealous for good works?

“Jesus gave himself for us to purify for himself a people who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). 

Jesus gave himself partly, significantly, purposefully to make us a people zealous for good works!  Fervent. Passionate. To the end. For good works. No age limit.

This year we have our first weekend away designed deliberately with those at a particular stage of life in mind.  Free perhaps of demands of employment and mortgage.  Yes other challenges will face us – I am not immune from knowing our bodies and minds tell us age has an effect.  But nothing that hinders being zealous for the good works Jesus has given us.  That is what this weekend is about – finding, renewing, affirming our unique call for these works Jesus has for each of us.

I have a deep conviction that the commonly called ‘third age’ is loaded and laden with gospel energy in a way our cultural concept of ‘retirement’ drains and belittles.  I think Jesus wants to re-ignite that generational flame.  Culturally its a generation aged 55 and over.

John Piper, now 70 and talking to those of this generation, recently said: ‘[God] has given you a lifetime of experience and wisdom and resources. You have a decade(s) of freedom in front of you. This is a trust. All your previous life was designed for this season of fruitfulness.’ 

He is just agreeing with God: “The righteous . . . still bear fruit in old age . . . to declare that the Lord is upright” (Psalm 92:12–15).

Those who prove this word of God true abound:

Winston Churchill became the prime minister in 1940 at the age of 66. He wielded his mighty eloquence against the Nazis till he was 70. Six years later, he was re-elected and served till he was 81. At 82, he wrote A History of the English-Speaking Peoples. 

Theologian Charles Hodge (1797–1878) lived to be 80. His biographer, Paul Gutjahr, wrote, “His last years were among his most productive . . . wielding his favourite pen to compose literally thousands of manuscript pages…”  

At 70, Benjamin Franklin helped draft the Declaration of Independence.  John Glenn became the oldest person to go into space at age 77.  At 89, Albert Schweitzer ran a hospital in Africa.  At 93, P.G. Wodehouse worked on his 97th novel and got knighted.  In his late sixities the Apostle Paul planned an epic global trip to Rome to ‘have a harvest among you…while passing through’ on his way to plant new churches in Spain (Romans 1:13, 15:23-24)

Time magazine in 2011 concluded the most influential stage of life averaged between the ages of 58 and 81.  And so, alongside relaxing, laughing, and building friendship my prayer is we leave this first new weekend away we will leave with a re-ignited passion for God’s glory and the unique, counter-cultural, Spirit-enabled role we are to play.  I can’t wait!

But it's made me prayer for all those in this dynamic age bracket and those who have it on the nearer horizon.  Will we waste it?  Or will we wonder at it and use it for God's glory?