Jul 03

As is the case with money, so it is with youth and the believer. He can no more cling to youth than the wicked can.

But what man cannot do, God can. Isaiah 40:31 says that even though youths shall faint and be weary, and young men fall exhausted, those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength and mount up with wings like eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint.

The believer in Christ always has a source of strength and renewal that the unbeliever cannot tap. Moses at 120 when he died is described in Scripture as one whose eyes were not weak nor his strength gone (Dt. 34:7). Joshua at 85 was as strong as the day he began fighting the battles of the Lord when he was younger and just as vigorous to go out to battle in his old age as then (Josh. 14:10, 11).

Now, these are not blanket promises from God to every single one of his people. There are many who have served him as invalids and in other roles of apparent illness or weakness of many sorts. But these are all only surface pictures. Underneath, there is the promise of Isaiah 40:31 that inner strength will always be available and also the sovereignty of God that can have this inner strength burst through into an outer display of strength whenever he so chooses for his own purposes and glory.

Keep youth? Possibly, but again, that is not the what is really important. What is important is using our youth for God's glory and then renewing our strength when needed.

While the wicked loses youth forever at the grave, we rejoice in the eternal renewal of heaven.

Scripture for today: Job 20:11; Isaiah 40:31
Thought for today: My God renews my strength.
Prayer for today: Lord, young or old, strong or weak, may I still praise you.

JUL 03