PSALMS 92:12-15: “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 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, To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” NKJV

OBSERVATION: Do you wish you could stay young? Have you been tempted to try the newest supplement, exercise regiment, or face cream? If the fountain of youth really existed would you travel, no matter how far it was, to take a drink?

We live in a youth-obsessed culture in America. Unlike some of the Eastern cultures that revere aging and the wisdom of their elders, in America, we discard the oldest generation in favor of the next and newest. The TV commercials are filled with ads that promise the latest secret to keep you looking and feeling younger. The snake-oil salesman of the Wild West has just rebranded themselves with creams and supplements.

IS THERE REALLY A KEY TO STAYING YOUNG?

While there is nothing in this life that can stop the process of physical aging, there is a Biblical answer to this question. All of us want to stay relevant and feel like their life is still making an impact. We want to be fruitful in life until the day God calls us home to be with Jesus, or until the day Jesus returns. The Psalmist gives us the key to living this kind of life. And, the answer is something most people miss completely.

• “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,”

What does it mean to be planted in the house of the Lord? It means to be a part of God’s people. It is a life that is connected in fellowship with the saints and is actively seeking the presence of God. In the Old Testament, it would refer to faithful worship at the Temple. In the New Testament, it refers to being connected with a local church assembly.

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION KEEP US YOUNG!

I am not defining young as one who does not have any wrinkles or gray hair. Rather, it is a person who is living life with purpose and is fruitful in their life from a Biblical definition of fruitfulness. They are filled with the Holy Spirit, walking in the grace of God, and daily becoming more like Jesus. Their lives are filled with purpose and they are impacting the next generation with a living testimony of what it means to be a Jesus follower.

• “To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

Let me share two wonderful examples of this. There is a wonderful woman in our church who has suffered from multiple strokes. From the doctor’s prognosis, she should not even be with us. Yet, whenever she can she comes to church, using her walker, with an oxygen tank by her side, and beaming with a radiant smile from ear to ear. Her greatest joy is to be in the house of the Lord! Whenever I greet her she recounts God’s faithfulness in her life and how glad she is to be with God’s people. I am challenged and blessed each time I see her!

There is another man I know who is already into his 90s. He is a father in the faith to me and a very dear friend. We call him Papa! Papa has spent over 70 years as a pastor and missionary, traveling around the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He said goodbye to his wife of over 60+ years a few years ago. He is unable to travel in the same way he did in the past. Yet, whenever the church doors are open – Papa is there. And, every day of his life he writes or tapes a live devotional and posts it on Facebook. His eyes are bright, his mind is sharp, and his heart continues to encourage his family and an endless list of friends and children in the faith!

Moses was 80 years young when the Lord called him into ministry to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt and into the promised land. Caleb was over 80 when he stood up in the midst of the congregation and proclaimed he would take the mountain as his inheritance and defeat the giants who dwelt in the land. Abraham was 100 years old when he received the son of promise, and Sarah was over 90 when she gave birth. The Apostle John was almost 100 when he wrote the book of Revelation and the epistles.

All of these saints of renown had one thing in common. They were a vital part of the family of God. They did not live in the shadows. They were not long rangers and isolated from the family of faith. They were each a vital part of God’s family and faithful to it. Church membership is so much more than attending church on a Sunday morning. It is when we allow our hearts to be knit together in true Biblical fellowship with other believers and we support one another in our walk of faith in Jesus Christ our Lord!

There is a radiance in the eyes of those who are planted in the house of the Lord. You cannot achieve this with miracle drops, expensive creams, or the next breakthrough supplement. This youthful glow comes from a heart that is settled in faith, assured by God’s grace, and filled with the peace that passes all human understanding. The world needs to invent and market its fountain of youth. The believer enters into it when they are planted in the house of the Lord. And, it remains a constant in their life every day until they cross over into the blessed presence of the one they love and serve!

• “They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

Lord, plant me firmly in Your presence. Plant me in fellowship with other believers. Let my life be committed to the family of God and the proclamation of the Gospel. Renew my strength, let me rise on the wings of eagles, let me walk and not become weary, let me run the race of faith in Jesus Christ in the renewing power of Your Holy Spirit – until I hear You say…

• “…Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:23‬ ‭NKJV‬

In Jesus’ Name!