Staying Forever Young

 

“The Christian Life: Forever Young”  Confirmation & Communion Sunday (week after announced retirement).  Ecclesiastes 12:1; Psalm 37:25 Preached at Lake Murray Presbyterian 5/1/22 by Dr. Ben Sloan

Last Sunday I announced I am retiring as pastor here and seeking to be honorably retired by Trinity Presbytery and also the denomination.  This year one of my grandchildren was confirmed in the church.  Yesterday Patrick and Chris Dunbar reminded me that theirs was the first wedding I did along with Ron Shive.  Now their daughter Eliza, whom I baptized, is getting confirmed. Many of these young people I have baptized.  Next Sunday I am performing the wedding for Emily Coleman who was in one of the confirmation classes I taught early on.  

We grow old, God never does.  Our faith may grow, develop, mature, but it should never, ever grow old.  The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the Word of our Lord endures forever.   As I moved boxes this week I discovered boxes of old pictures with people who had weird poofy hairdos and bell bottom jeans, ruffled dresses and more.  Fashions change and the world says we better keep up with these trends.  But the grass withers, the flowers fade, but the Word of our God endures forever.  My hope is we are not keeping up with the grass and the flowers as they dry up, but with the Word of God as it endures.  How do you stay young?  Bob Dylan had a song later remade by Rod Stewart that they both wrote for their children called, “Forever Young.”  In it they kept saying, “May you stay forever young.”  That is the question.  How do you keep your energy, your desire to live, your hope, your strength going?  Some young people give up on life too young.  I believe that God keeps us young at heart. 
CONFIRMANDS- You will be tempted later to look on this moment as irrelevant for your soul.  You will be tempted at some point to think that your public profession of faith or the water of baptism means nothing to you.  You will be tempted to think that only what you see matters.  But love is the greatest, and the love of God is the greatest love.  He will never stop loving you.   

REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH-  Before you can’t remember.  Our minds fade.  This is eternal life- that they may know you the only true God- and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.  He has come to give us the abundant life.  Not we must live free before we are shackled- but live free in Christ and not be shackled by the world.
We tend to think the very opposite.  I want to be wild before I can’t be wild anymore- and I have no pleasure in my days.
But you will be blessed and kept from a ton of heartache, and kept from a ton of evil if you will enjoy the blessings of God and seek to grow in Him when you are young. 
      Years ago I knew two identical twins.  They shared the same basic DNA and environment.  But one stayed in the youth group, went to Montreat every year, and stayed true to their faith throughout.  She went onto college, got a nice job and family afterwards- and she knew who she was.  The other twin rebelled in order to be different and identify herself away from her family.  She went the route of trying different drugs and many parties and rebelling against her faith.  She too went to college, but ended up dropping out and living alone.  Her parents called and asked that I pray for her.  A few weeks later they found her. But she kept saying over and over out loud- “I don’t know who I am anymore.”  
    Today the confirmation class is making a choice about who they are and what they believe.  But the question to everyone is can you remember your Creator?   When Jesus instituted the Last Supper He said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”  Remember who you are and whose you are.  It will guide you like a beacon into the harbor.   

GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IS CONSTANT- The Psalmist said, “I was young and now I am old but I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.”  This is a general principle about God’s faithfulness.  Though we are not always faithful to Him, He is faithful to us.  He is our NorthStar to point us to the right direction.
Remember that God is always like the father of the Prodigal- looking for the Prodigal to come back ready to welcome them. 
The Church with a capital C will always be there for you.  Ministers always come and go.  Never follow the ministers.  It is not the instruments in the orchestra that are important or the ones playing them.  Rather it is the song that is important.  Follow the song of God.  Listen for His voice calling to you. 
Confirmands- You have made the commitment of faith.  As such, you have the pass- the membership card to enter into service in any Christian church.  The doors are open to you especially now.    
Ponce De Leon was commissioned by the King of Spain to find Bimini and thus the Fountain of Youth.  He never did.  But people are still searching.  The Chinese talked about the Elixer of Life- which Harry Potter mentioned in the Sorcerer’s Stone.  People are still trying to find a way to live longer.  Prevagen claimed to take jellyfish and increase your brain cells.  It sold about $165 million a year with a huge ad campaign in tow.  In 2017 the FTC sued it as a hoax.  People still buy it.  But here are some basic scriptural principles to staying young. 
BE EVER LEARNING AND LISTENING- Prov. 3:2 “son do not forget my teaching, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.”  Honor your father and mother that your days may be long.  It is not just an extension.  
BE EVER LOVING- Love energizes us.  Deut. 30:20- Love the Lord.  The Lord IS YOUR LIFE. 
His life giving love keeps us young. 
BE EVER LEANING- Trusting in God and not giving into fear of death and worry.  Fear the Lord and you will have life. 
What is the secret to staying forever young?  It is not drugs.  It is not sex.  It is not wealth.  It is not age cream.  It is no secret.  It is learning, loving and leaning on the Lord God who gives us life abundantly and eternally every day.