Fruitful Spirit

Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. Ps 92:14 (NLT)

Big toes crossed underneath the others, legs thin-skinned, injured from years of hard work in tobacco fields.

“I just love the Lord! He’s been so good to me. I’m ready to go anytime.”

By any global standard, Betty is not rich, not even noticeable in a crowd. But as I view this woman’s crinkled face in her simple kitchen I feel honor for her. She is truly bearing eternal fruit in old age. 

My desire is to grow old like her. A worn-out body with a Spirit-filled soul.

Since I am careening down the other side of the proverbial hill, looking back, there is understanding. Not of everything, but events and thoughts and actions and words are colored over with the sage view of time.

But getting old is hard. And painful.

My desire is to finish well. We could take a few cues from Betty.

First, she said loved the Lord. It is easy to say, harder to implement. How I learn to love the Lord more is to make spending time with Him a priority. I can’t say I do this every day, but usually, I devote about 20-30 minutes first thing in the morning to read His Word and talk with Him. There is also time to listen. The more I know Jesus, the more I love Him.

She is grateful. We are a cynical society—and generally ungrateful. As I worked in our fields on our farm a few years ago, my thoughts went to a time of slavery and how they did not have a choice about when and how long they worked. I thanked the Lord for choices and when a cloud covered the blazing sun, I thanked God Almighty for clouds.

Lastly, she said she was ready to go anytime.

Paul said to be absent from the body means to be present with the Lord. In fact, Paul said being with the Lord is very much better!

Being ready to meet Jesus is a win-win situation.

But some of you may be hurting now. Whether it is growing old, or you or your family have been diagnosed with a disease, or a myriad of other reasons. 

I am sorry, friend. My heart aches for you.
 
Meditate with me on these words from the Apostle Paul,

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)

One last word—don’t let sin get in your way of finishing well. 

Let’s pray that for each other.

See you in heaven.

Copyright © 2018 Pauline Hylton, used with permission.