CHRIST HAS A MINISTRY FOR THE OLD OR SICK

When you become old and frail or sick you are not a wasted vessel but a person highly regarded by God and you will continue to bear fruit. One of the ministries for these Christians is the acceptance of unwanted illnesses.

        One of my cousins, Elmorine Mansfield says, "Sometimes the only time some people look up is when they are flat on the bed." It is a humorous way of expressing that others will ask if your faith is real? Do you fall into despair? Do you fear death? Where is the powerful Jesus of whom you spoke? Why do you not speak of Him now? Yes, as we become ill we become a "Show Case" to our friends and most of all to our family that Jesus is worthwhile and will take care of us. It is said that getting old is not for sissies. You say, "What ministry are you speaking about?" It is the ministry of accepting the pain of old age, the frailness and death of the body. You say, "That is not a ministry I want. Can't I have another?" Have you not prayed to the Lord Jesus to use you in ministries that bring Him glory. Must you have veto power?

         So if you are an old Christian warrior, keep shoveling the coal into the burner and full speed ahead. Praise God !   Don't be afraid of the Show Case Ministry, Jesus will see you through it, and into Heaven where you can dance again.

        Psalm 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."

The picture to the right above portrays King David singing a praise song to God around 1000 BC. A monk painted this picture in 1200 AD on leather in a book of psalms thinking that only one person would see it. Yet today it is viewed by you and all who come to this web site. Between January and April 2007, I viewed over 1000 medieval images and this one is one of my favorites. Usually I look for an image to go with a poem or article. But with the medieval images that I selected, it was the reverse. I gathered them and waited for inspiration to go with the image. To me psalm 92 speaks about those Christians who are getting old and how they will continue to bring forth fruit even in their frail bodies. Here is encouragement to those who say, they are too old to bear fruit for God. Their methods in old age fruit bearing may be quite different from their youth or middle years.

       To grasp the meaning of psalm 92, one should read the psalm starting with the first 5 verses, where King David is singing to the Lord (see picture).They are as follows:

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare Your loving kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night, on an instrument of ten strings, on the lute, and on the harp, with harmonious sound. For You, Lord have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands, O Lord, How great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep."

        Next verses 6 through 11 speak of those who foolishly do not follow God. Then comes Verse 12 through 15, the encouragement verses for Christians today who have been working the causes of God for many years; know that you are not a wasted vessel.

        Written by Frank Henrich June 24, 2007

Click Here For Poem, OH God, Not Again. A Good Reading When You Do Not Wonderstand Why Something Is Happening To You.