Josh. 13:1: "Joshua was already very old. The Lord said unto him, "You are already very old and there is still a great deal of the land that must be taken into possession."

When Joshua has reached a ripe old age, God gave him a new vision and a new challenge. Although many of his friends and relatives may have felt that his life was over, God did not write him off. God does not advise him to enter a retirement village: He reminds Joshua that there is still a great part of the land that must be won from the enemy!

Someone once said that age was a problem which lay between your ears. Recent studies have shown that intelligence and effectiveness tends to increase with age, not decrease! Doctors have pointed out that older people do not remain healthy for long unless they feel that they are wanted and useful. For this reason the highest illness rate is found amongst people aged 50-70. Once this danger zone has been passed, many elderly people reveal amazing initiative: Michael Angelo was 70 when he completed his masterpiece in the St Peter's cathedral; Goethe was over 80 when he wrote Faust; Gladstone became Prime Minister at 84; and Handel, Haydn and Verdi were still actively composing at the ages of 74, 77 and 87 respectively. Pasteur made his great discovery when he was 63; Winston Churchill was 82 when he wrote his book "A history of the English-speaking peoples". As Matthew Arnold said, "Genius is mainly an affair of energy."

The story is told of a 108-year-old woman who instituted divorce proceedings against her husband because she suspected that he had married her for her money. She clearly did not expect to die soon! A Christian farmer from Pongola, Wiets Marais, has recently learned to work on a computer and is now writing a book. As senior citizen, the late Henna Grey of Josini received a vision from the Lord to spend the rest of her life in the mission field. She bade all luxuries farewell and started ministering to the people on the Makatini flats from her little caravan until she eventually established a congregation there.

The reason why people remain active and enterprising is because they keep themselves busy. Doctors claim that being busy is the best way to rid oneself of emotional stress and tension. Hobbies and involvement in church and community projects help in this respect. As it is generally the inactive elderly people who are more prone to becoming ill, it is very important that one should pray for a busy time of retirement in the Lord's service. The inscription on one of the graves in a Swiss cemetery reads, "HE DIED CLIMBING". Unfortunately, of many it will have to be said that they died descending for they have lost the excitement of living, enthusiasm for new things and no longer have any expectations!

The spiritual challenge which faces senior citizens is tremendous. God's purpose with old age is to give us time to review our value systems. In our youth, the self is central - God wishes to change this through the years.

The greatest danger in retirement is that one may be tempted to follow the pattern of the world and spend this time indulging in the self and chasing after pleasure. For many, retirement is the most selfish period of their lives - and this when the time for meeting God is at hand!! Money is spent on all kinds of luxuries such as overseas trips, purchasing a motorboat, pleasure and relaxation, and just loafing around. Retirement is a CALLING. People should retire with a vision to make themselves available for the Lord's service. Particularly at this time of their lives the may be the power and influence which leads to the saving of souls. Spiritually this can be the most productive time of one's life as one can work for the Lord full time. Senior citizens have much experience and knowledge and in this last stage of their lives this should be available to the Lord. What a powerful prayer force they could be as they now have enough time to pray! The Lord needs Moseses, Hurs and Aarons to intercede for his work. By interceding for a missionary, is reckoned by the Lord to be the same as doing the mission work yourself. "Whoever welcomes God's messenger because he is God's messenger will share in his reward..."

Of the last days it is written that people will become "selfish... they will love pleasure more than they love God..." One should not allow this to be true of one's own last days on earth. Rather, Ps 92:15 should be true of us, "The righteous... that still be fruit in old age... will flourish like palm trees... and are always green and strong..."

At the age of 85, Joshua (Jos. 14:10-11), who devoted his life to the service of the Lord and was known for his child-like faith, could say, " Today I am a man of eighty-five, yet I am still as strong as the day on which Moses sent me out. I can still go out to war and return unscathed." Moses lead the Israelites until he was 120 years old. His secret was that he walked with God.

The Lord's children do not retire - they assume service when they leave their jobs. Even though the years go by, every person should still be certain that he/she is being obedient from day to day and that he/she is carrying out God's plan for his/her life. A person who no longer sticks to God's agenda has become spiritually cold or lukewarm.