Make the Most of your Golden Years

“So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.” Psalm 71:18 ESV

In an article titled “Marathon runner ponders her global streak after ultra-sporty vacation week” published by the Detroit News yesterday, Zin Zhu, 59, described the thrill of notching a coveted "7-7-7." That means running seven marathons in seven days on, no kidding, all seven world continents. Not many have done it. The World Marathon Challenge is a show of athletic prowess that’s improbably difficult and costly. Zhu’s husband and their two sons gave her the globe-trotting vacation week as an early 60th birthday gift, for about $45,000, she said. Zhu pulled off this month's global challenge with stunning aplomb, grabbing several second places, a third and a fourth among the group of women who competed, many of them far younger and presumably in their physical prime. (Her fastest time was 3:48:29 in Dubai; and slowest was 4:36:44 in the Antarctic, which is still less than 11 minutes per mile on ice fields near the South Pole.) Wow! How’s that for showing that age doesn’t always have to slow us down?

And you know, while not everyone will be able to run marathons up into their ‘golden years.’ In fact, less than one percent of the population will ever complete a 26.2 mile race— but every believer can and should be productive at every stage of their lives, faithfully running the Christian race. This means not letting “old age and gray hairs” slow a person down from proclaiming God’s might to the next generation and His power to those who come. And this is where old age is an advantage! By the time true believers have reached their ‘golden years,’ they have a broadened knowledge of the Bible and a lifetime of stories to tell about God’s faithfulness. 

So remember this my friend… every one of us will grow older. And at every stage of our lives we will have a unique purpose. So whether you’re 17 or 77, run with endurance and spread the Good News everywhere you go. 

Heavenly father, thank you so very much for the reminder that we are to serve You at every age. And while this may look different as we go through life, give us wisdom, discernment, and strength to do our very best so that when we break the tape we can hear the words, “Well done good and faithful servant.”  It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.  

Happy Running!