Matthew 5:13a “Ye are the salt of the earth…”

“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” –Edmond Burke

Do you ever feel like you are getting old?  As I sit here, writing this, I am reminded of one of the great certainties of life – the certainty of aging.    If the Lord tarries His coming and give you long life, you will, sooner or later, feel the effects of being as the Bible calls it, “well stricken in years.”  The Bible has many examples of older people doing great and wonderful things for God.  I love the story of Caleb and how he went into the Promised Land as an older man because he chose to trust God in his youth (Numbers 14).

My desire today is that I finish my course with godliness and zeal and that I make my life count right up to the last minute.  Often, the tendency is to want to slow down and be drawn to the rocking chair.  What we need to be drawn to is the battlefield because the Christian soldier’s war is never over.  We need never feel as if God is through with us.  Although I do not agree with everything Dr. Jerry Falwell said and/or did, he often spoke of his “fourth-quarter ministry” and how he wanted to be his most effective in service to God.  I can think of many Godly men who served God greatly in their latter years – Dr. Tom Malone, Dr. Lee Roberson and others).

One of my husband’s favorite historical figures is a man named David Jones.  Jones was a pastor of two churches in addition to being a Baptist Chaplain during the Revolutionary War.  He was converted in 1758 at age 22.  At the age of 40, Jones was appointed as a Chaplain in the Continental Army.  He published a sermon that was widely circulated entitled, “Defensive War in a Just Cause Sinless.”  General Washington considered Chaplain Jones to be a loyal confidant and had his deliver several secret messages during the war.  He was also a leader in several scouting expeditions.  Once, when Chaplain Jones was returning from camp after a visit with his family, he stopped at an Inn to spend the night.  While eating his meal, a certain man aroused his suspicious and Chaplain Jones threw his pistol and placed the man under arrest.  The man turned out ot be a British officer.  Chaplain Jones was so active in irritating the British, that he had a bounty placed upon his head by British Geveral Howe.  Chaplain Jones served his country and his God for several years.

When the war of 1812 began, the now 76 year old again received a Chaplain’s commission.  Chaplain Jones’ contemporaries had this to say about him, “In danger, he knew no fear.  In fervent patriotism, he had no superiors and few equals.  In the Revolutionary struggle, he was a tower of strength and in peity, he was a Christian without reproach.”  Here is a man that made a difference with his one life from his youth to his life’s end.

How can we be like Caleb and Chaplain Jones and make our life count until the very end?

1.  Stay active, stay busy and keep on fighting the good fight.  There are so many things that can keep a person busy for God.  Consider volunteering at a restoration ministry (such as Reformer’s Unanimous) or be a mentor for some young person.

2.  Tell the Gospel message to everyone you can.  Win souls to the Lord.  Give out tracts and Gospel literature (Proverbs 11:30).  Remind people of the true Christian history of America.

3.  Champion Judeo-Christian values.  With the coming one-world religion and one-world government not so far away, it may seem that the importance of protecting life and the family that God instituted when He brought Eve to Adam may be losing luster.  However, we need to take heart, because in the end, Biblical values do win the day.  Be pro-active politically.

4.  Keep a sweet spirit.  Be kind.  Someone has rightly said, “If you are unkind, you are the wrong kind.”  Kindness will endear a person to others allowing them to be more effective for the cause of Christ.

5.  Be determined.  Determination is the vehicle that delivers success.  If you are determined to make a difference, you can and will succeed, not only in your youth but also in your golden years.

The time to get activated towards making a difference is now.  Do all you can for God with the only life you have.  We have, “only one life will soon be past and only what’s left for Christ will last.”  When it comes to being salt and light, remember we do not have all day; we have to get on the move as we meditate on these thoughts today.  My prayer is that God will help us to be faithful, busy and focused on honoring and pleasing Him with our ONE life; right on up until the very end.  Never stop being the “salt”.

Getting older is not so bad after all.  We have a God that never changes.  Old school…there’s no school lie the old school.