“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).

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Contents:

1) Bearing  Fruit in Old Age (Psalm 71:17-18) (Mike Johnson)
2) Why God Tests Our Faith (Heath Rogers)

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Bearing Fruit in Old Age
(Psalm 71:17-18)

Mike Johnson

Psalm 71:17-18 says, “O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works.  Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.”  This psalm was written by an aged person, generally thought to be David.  He faces many hardships in his old age, and his enemies surround him.  He knew that God had always been there for him in the past, and he was confident that God’s aid would continue.

The writer repeatedly states the reason for requesting deliverance in verses 14-18.  If delivered, he could continue praising God and telling the next generation about His righteousness, salvation, wondrous works, strength, and power.

Some people become old and decide that, as they retire from their jobs, they can “retire” from the responsibilities of being a Christian.  However, this was not the attitude of the psalmist.  His reason for wanting to continue to live was to have the opportunity to serve the Lord and even to teach younger people.

Elsewhere, Psalm 92:12-13 speaks of the righteous flourishing like a palm tree, growing like a cedar in Lebanon, and flourishing in the courts of God.  Verses 14-15 continue, “They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”  Those advanced in years must continue to declare God’s uprightness and bear fruit for Him.

Examples of God using aged people in his services exist throughout the Scriptures.  Consider some cases.

1. Moses & Aaron — Moses was 40 years old when he smote the Egyptians (Acts 7:23); he was 80, and Aaron was 83 when God called them to deliver His people (Ex. 7:7).  Moses died at 120 (Deut. 34:7). They accomplished so much for the Lord in the last segment of their lives.

2. Joshua & Caleb — Joshua, who was in charge of leading the conquest of the land of Canaan, took over this role in his 80’s. He lived to be 110 (Josh. 24:29), so this important leadership role in God’s service was in the late stage of his life. On the other hand, Caleb, a leader during the conquest, was in his 40s when he was sent to spy out the land and was in his 80s when he took over the leadership role (Josh. 14:6-11). Caleb remained a faithful servant of God throughout his life.

3. Zacharias & Elizabeth — These became the parents of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ. Luke 1 describes them as being “well advanced in years” (7, 18, 36) and also says Elizabeth was “barren.”  The angel, Gabriel, appeared to Zecharias and told him they would have a child, who they would call “John,” and he would prepare the way for Christ.  Also, Zecharias was still serving in the temple despite his age.

4. Simeon & Anna — These are two older people who were present when the Christ child was brought to the temple for circumcision (Lk. 2:22-38). The Scriptures describe Simon as a just and devout man “waiting for the Consolation of Israel.”  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would live long enough to see Jesus Christ (25-26).  He prophesied about Christ in verses 29-31 and said that since he had seen Him, he was ready to “depart in peace” (20).  We do not know precisely how old Simeon was, but it is clear that he continued to serve God even though he was advanced in years.  Also, Anna is described as “ . . . a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day” (37).  Like the psalmist, she then spread the message about the Lord (38).  It is clear that, although aged, she was devoted to God, and serving Him was the center of her life.

5. Paul — We do not know exactly how old Paul was when he consented to the death of Stephen and “made havoc of the church” (Acts 8:1-3), but from his conversion (Acts 9) until he was an old man near death, we learn of his faithfulness to the Lord. Despite persecutions (2 Cor. 11:22-28), he faithfully served God until the end.  In Philemon 9, while in prison for the cause of Christ, he referred to himself as “Paul the aged.”  During what was probably a later imprisonment, apparently near the very end, he wrote to Timothy, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:6-8).  Like the psalmist, for as long as Paul lived, he declared the “strength” and “power” of God to everyone he could.

Old age is supposed to be a productive time when the righteous, although advanced in years, continue to honor God and spread the message about Him.  For qualified men, it is a time for some to become elders or overseers (Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Tim. 3:1-7).  Older women are to teach the younger women (Titus 2:3-5).  Many become slack in serving God when they have reached the age where they can do the most!  But David declared the strength and power of God until the end, and every aged Christian today should do the same.

— Via Seeking Things Above

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Why God Tests Our Faith

Heath Rogers

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2-3). God will test the faith of His people at various times and to various degrees. These testing experiences (what James calls “various trials”) can range from inconveniences to disasters. These are experiences that we would prefer to avoid if possible. If God has the power to spare us of these trials, why does He allow them to take place? James says these trials are testing our faith. Why does God test our faith?

1. He loves us. “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives’” (Heb. 12:5-6).

Discipline is painful, but it is an act of love. Parents lovingly discipline their children to give them correction and to guide them in developing good character. God does the same thing for us, allowing us to develop endurance, perseverance, and hope (Rom. 5:3-4), with the goal of us being perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4).

2. To purify our faith. “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:6-7).

Precious metals like gold are purged of their impurities by fire. The intense heat of the smelting pot causes these impurities to separate and burn away. We have bad habits, bad attitudes, bad motives, and bad desires that must be removed to make our faith pure. It is through times of suffering and testing that we learn how worthless and hindering these things are to our spiritual lives, and how much we truly need God.

3. To strengthen our faith. Fire is also used to strengthen steel. Through a meticulous process of heating and cooling, the metal’s microstructure will change, and it is made stronger. It was through severe testing that Abraham’s faith was both strengthened (Rom. 4:20) and made perfect (James 2:22). Like our physical bodies and minds, our faith will only become strong with use. Knowing this, God provides tests and trials for our faith, sometimes pushing us to the limit, to make us stronger and more fit for service in His kingdom.

When our faith is being tested, we can either resent God’s efforts and give up or we can acknowledge God’s love and cooperate. This is why James followed the instruction of enduring various trials with an admonition about wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). We need wisdom to see the spiritual realities behind the trials of this life. Such wisdom will give us the proper perspective: “Satan intends to destroy my faith with these sufferings, but God intends to strengthen me by them. I must cooperate with God and trust in His purpose for my life.”

— Via Articles from the Knollwood church of Christ, July 2025

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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

1) Hear the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31).
 
2) Believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).

3) Repent of sins.  For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).  For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).

4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).

5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21).  This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).  For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so “through faith in the working of God” (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to…

6) Continue in the faith by living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).

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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA  31501

Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service
Wednesday (all but the first): 7 p.m. Bible Classes 
 First Wednesday of the month: 7 p.m. Congregational Song Service (about 45 minutes of singing, followed by a short talk)

evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com

https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)