FLOURISHING WITH AGE

They shall still bear FRUIT IN OLD AGE; that shall be FRESH and FLOURISHING – Psalm 92:14

God wants you to flourish like the Palm Tree – to FLOURISH WITH AGE: Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing” (Psalm 92:13-14). The Palm tree gains value with increasing age. Its fruit gets sweeter and sweeter as the days go by. A healthy, green tree bears fruit even in old age, signifying for the believer, spiritual health and all-round fruitfulness in old age. The righteous stays fresh, fruitful, and green even in old age. It is often said that the older trees with scarred trunks produce the sweetest fruit. The scars of life produce the sweet fruit of the Spirit. The trials of life through the agency of God’s Word help us to be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29).

Many cultures however seem to value the youth more than the elderly. In the workplace, for example, mandatory retirement policies restrict the number of years an employee is considered useful. Believers need not feel weak or unproductive as they grow older. The older we become the more effective and strong we should become in the faith. Just as the fall season of the year is the time of abundant fruitfulness, so we should be able to say, “Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16). That was true of the apostle Paul. During his years of service for the Lord, he faced many hardships. But even as he grew older physically, he grew more vibrant spiritually. You are meant to grow “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18).

God also promises that in old age the righteous will proclaim the LORD's faithfulness (Psa.92:15). You’ll remain strong and vibrant enough to continually proclaim and praise the Lord who planted you in His courts. We can see the example of Caleb: “And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in” (Jos.14:10-11).

Not only will you stay fresh and green in old age, you will bear fruit in diverse other ways. Paul talks about walking worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing and “being fruitful in every good work” (Col.1:10). In addition, Galatians 5: 22-23 lists the qualities that constitute “the fruit of the Spirit”: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. God’s promise to the righteous is that in old age you will still be spiritually, mentally, and physically alive and healthy, produce a diversity of fruits without stress. One reason an old tree would stay fresh and fruitful is because it is getting enough water. You will be fresh and fruitful in old age as you are being watered by God's Word.  Psalm 1 describes the person who meditates on God's Word day and night. He or she is “like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither” (Psa. 1: 1-3).

Even if you’re closely approaching or already in the “winter” season of life, in Christ, there is a grace that’ll sustain you. See each day as a fresh gift from the Lord. The plan and purpose of God is that we each come to full old ages like a great palm tree growing in His house, staying strong, faithful, and fruitful in Him. God doesn’t only add years to our lives; He adds life to our years!