TITLE: Growing Older not Colder

TEXT: Ecclesiastes 12:1-7

PROPOSITION: We must experience old age.

QUESTION: What?

KEY WORD: Experiences

READING: Same

INTRODUCTION:

1.    4 stages of life –

1.    Believe in Santa Claus

2.    Don't believe in Santa Claus

3.    Are Santa Claus

4.    Look like  Santa Claus

2.    Grandma – I am 39 and holding. Grandson – How old would you be if you let go?

3.    How does one grow old with grace?

Traditional feelings among the aging

1.    Uselessness.  "I am over the hill."

2.    Guilt. "If I could do it over...”

3.    Bitterness and resentment.

1.    "If my children had...”

2.    "If I had married a different person...”

4.    Fear.

1.    World is speeding up - traffic, bar codes, ATM

2.    We are slowing down.

Remember thy Creator

1.    Hebrew means - Act decisively on behalf of God – not just reminisce about the past

2.    Commitment, service, obey, live for Him, be faithful

Physical Aging            3-5

1.    Mental Dullness and Depression

1.    Memory - Alertness – Comprehension

2.    Feeling of "What's the use?"
 

2.    Physical Ailments and Limitations

1.    Trembling watchmen = head, voice and hands

2.    Strong men = legs get weak

3.    Grinders = teeth fall out

4.    Windows = eyes, cataracts, thick lenses

5.    Doors shut = friends die, houses sold, closed, no one visits

6.    Sound = hearing fails, can't hear birds

7.    Fear = greater fear of danger or harm

8.    Almond tree blossoms = gray hair

9.    Grasshopper is a burden = loss of strength

10.          Desire is gone = Can't - Why wish you could?

11.          Silver cord is broken = death

Life's Final Factor                 7

          A. Body - returns to dust

          B. Soul - returns to God

Conclusion:

1.    Growing OLD – not a choice, part of the life cycle

2.    Growing COLD – is a choice

3.    We must “remember our Creator” – continue to act, serve, work, obey, live for God