And Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, and old man and satisfied [with life]; and he was gathered to his people.
Message: Elderly, Not Happy
Time: Genesis is the first book and Moses is credited as authoring. The book spans 2400 years of time. It was originally written in Hebrew.
What the Lord is Saying: Aging is difficult. I am finding this out. It seems for me that life simply ran its course for 50 years or so, maybe even 55 for me, but over the last couple of years, I have noticed age starting to set in. Discomforts are rising. My mind seems more cluttered at times. Memory seems harder. Responsibilities are increasing. At times, my ability to complete tasks is taking longer. My analysis seems to increase on things. I have started a book called "From Strength to Strength" by Arthur Brooks. It is a book about happiness and purpose in the 2nd half of life. Even that book I am having trouble making progress on. I want to but other things get in the way or take my focus off of it. The book has reminded me so for that as I sense live coming to a close, there may be a struggle with joy and happiness and purpose.
I am 58 and told my boss this week that I think I will retire 1 year from next month. It seems the right time. And yet, I don't know what will happen to me after that. Even though I will stop working, I can continue to get paid for a year because of the vacation and sick pay I have stockpiled.
So this text or reading here seems apt for me. Granted, there are always those older than me. Right now, I am in a Sunday school class and a couple of weeks ago it was said I am a young person in the class since most of the class is made up of people my parents' age. I know my dad continues to struggle following the death of my mom in October 2019. While he misses my mom, his fear of death seems greater. And these two emotions in his life control his life and define it. For him, there is solitude. He manages his day I think. He has routines but it seems that each day is simply an exercise in getting to tomorrow.
This text today mentions Abraham at his old age, breathing his last, mentioning he was ripe, satisfied and with friends. To me this means, he was ready, satisfied and had people. Perhaps that is the need for any time or moment in life. Living like today is your last. Living with contentment and living with people around you.
This lesson though lists 3 points today.
1. The author here points out that Abraham had faith in God. This faith has existed throughout his life as he has learned to trust God and depend on His promises. Uncertainties that come and sufferings that come can be faced because of that faith. I think this means we believe in God's promises and words to us. We believe in the future he has prepared for us, our heavenly home. And we remember the love he has for us.
Often people remark that they don't know how people make it without God. I have been talking to someone recently that I believe is an atheist. He is thankful for life and appreciates life. He understands suffering and pain. That life is simply this. But for me it life is something more. God's word and that knowledge that I am his creation, and living with him now and for eternity gives me an everlasting peace. I see his work in all things of life and He is my creator. That life is more than today, but tomorrow. And the principles in the Bible are for my best. So it seems empty to not have that.
2. Abraham was obedient to God. Obedience follows faith. "Trust and obey, there is no other way than to be happy in Jesus" or so the song goes. Obedience produces alignment with God and His ways. As we abide in His ways, we see the fruit that follows and that alone brings peace and tranquility and we know and have assurance that God will not forsake us.
3. His final point is Abraham walked with God. It seems to the author this meant a relationship with seems to be the product of faith and obedience. He talked to God, listened, and understood Him. This relationship with God assures us and Abraham that God is there. Having built that relationship, we have nothing to fret about it. It moves to more than simply trust, to an alignment..
One of the things I have noticed with my earthly father is he seems to have placed his entire well-being in my mom and his dependence on her for everything she did meant that upon her passing, he did not seem like he could be happy consistently. He stopped meeting with friends at Starbuck's, going to his synagogue, relating with people because his foundation (my mom) was no longer there and this has resulted in his extreme solidarity and loneliness to the point that all he has is his health. That health fear has always been there but it has grown in these final days.
Prayer: O God, how I want to find my rest in You. How I want find my peace in You, trusting in You day by day. I want to grow daily in that relationship and continue to have faith and follow that up with obedience. Thank you for bringing me to this point right now. Help me to hold onto you. And be ready to die, satisfied and content and surrounded by friends and family. All that you have blessed me with.
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