At a youth event in Winnipeg last year I went out for lunch with a large group of leaders. I was so caught up in conversation on the walk over that I didn’t notice what kind of restaurant we were in until someone handed me a menu. Right away I thought, this is for old people! I looked up and sure enough, grey haired people everywhere. I thought (well okay, first I thought, “how clever I am to figure that out”) but then I thought “what a funny choice of restaurant for this young group of leaders; not really fitting in with this liver-and-onions crowd”.

Then I’m flipping through the menu and get to this page. “Exclusively for 55 and up! Figures, I think those were the only people here until we showed up.

I don’t want to tell you how long it took me to come to the realization that I’m 55 and up. And then, these people are me! And then, I’m the oldest person at our table! And then (yes the mind was moving slowly – no jokes please) I must look just like “them” to the young people I’m with.

One more story…. I was playing basketball on the street in front of our house when I notice a mom walking her 8 year old kid home from school. I’m draining 3’s and the kid stops in his tracks and stares at me. One after another the shots are sinking from further out than that kid can probably throw a tennis ball. And he’s not moving. It’s like he’s waiting for an autograph or something. Then suddenly he exclaims: “Oh, I thought it was Grampa!” and off they go…. All he could see is that I’m old! You know those micro-expressions that you can’t hide? Well, I guess my face was giving something away, because the mom right away feels bad and says, obviously loud enough for me to hear, “Oh, honey, I’m sure Grampa can’t play basketball like that!”

OK, bonus story…. Several months later the same thing happens. I’m shooting the lights out, mom and kid stop and stare. The mom finally asks “What’s its name?” I don’t understand the question, the name of my team? Before I can answer “No, Ma’am, I’m not playing competitively, I’m just…” I turn around and see our cat on the driveway. “Joey” I say sheepishly. Fooled again.

Anyways, never in my life have I been around so many people who are aging as in the past several years. People in old age homes, those with terminal illnesses, and some just dying of old age. Weird. But at the same time I’m finding it easier to relate to old people in ways I hadn’t before. Can’t explain it 🙂

As I’m spending time with these old people, I notice a bit of a theme. People are hoping to hang in there until they die and go to heaven. Sometimes it’s because of the suffering, just to endure. For some, it’s hoping not to fall into sin. For others, it’s to finish well, to complete the tasks God has given them. Others are just tired of this world and are waiting to go home and get some rest. We can finally float in the clouds, play harps and eat cream cheese.

But the Bible has a different idea. After everything is done–the first and second resurrection, the judgement, the first and second death, the millennium, the lake of fire and the Holy City coming down from heaven–

• The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. – Rev 21:24-26
• On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. – Rev 22:2-3
• And they will reign for ever and ever. – Rev 22:5
• Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. – Rev 22:14-15

There are still nations, outside the city, that are being healed month by month of their magic arts, sexual immorality, murder, idolatry and lying. And we’re the ones serving him and reigning with him, so likely we’re involved in that.

Sounds like Luke 19:17. Not “way to go, take a break”, but “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’”

How are some of the bad guys still around? Well, it’s a mystery, but I think it may have something to do with God’s mercy. This pattern of God working gradually and mysteriously is seen throughout Scripture.

• In pre-history we think Satan somehow lost his place in heaven, yet he shows up in Job talking with God (Is 14, Ezek 28, Job 1)
• The flood should have wiped out the Nephilim, but we see several references to their descendants in the following Old Testament books (Gen 6, Nu 13, Dt 2)
• Israel completely destroys nations, yet we hear stories of their descendants (Nu 21, Judges 3)
• Jesus triumphed over Satan, yet he’s still operating (Jn 12, Col 2, 1 Pe 5)

Throughout the Bible we see the same pattern of God’s people moving into more and more glorious spaces, like becoming a nation or receiving the Holy Spirit and finally no more pain or sin or mourning. And we see evil having less and less of a grip, like demons being cast out or the beast thrown into the lake of fire. But it all happens gradually, like all of Jesus’ parables about the kingdom, and these verses in Deuteronomy 7:21-23

• Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God. The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you. But the Lord your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed. 

Anyways, the point is that there’s so much more for us after this life. We don’t need to avoid thinking about getting old or dying. Our suffering here in the final stages of life are not the end of serving God.

Jesus suffered and died alone. Paul had no one taking care of him at the end. John was imprisoned on an island. What kept them going?

• For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Heb 12:2

Jesus’s hope was not in just making it through the cross and death, but reigning with God. Not sure what that means exactly but it must be good, because listen to the mother of James and John:

• Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” – Mt 20:20-21

Let’s not be afraid of death, assuming there’s nothing meaningful to do after this life. Rather, let’s be faithful to the end with our few things, and hear this from our Father:

• Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness! – Mt 25:21