To stay young

A very dear friend of mine once gave me a re-usable calendar. Even though I have kept it on my desk for many years, I never grow tired of the quotes and Bible verses it contains. I am continually learning something new from it...

The quote for 3/18 is by an Unknown Author:
"To stay young in spirit, keep taking on new thoughts and throwing off old habits."

Followed by Psalm 92:14 "Even in old age they will still produce fruit and be vital and green." New Living Translation

If we look up the same Psalm in other versions of the Bible, any doubt or concern about what it means becomes clear...
The NIV version of the verse: "They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,"
The Message version: "They'll grow tall in the presence of God, lithe and green, virile still in old age."
The King James version: "They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;"
But I believe I like the Good News version the best: "...that still bear fruit in old age, and are always green and strong."

But who is the Bible talking about? If we go back and read verses 12 -14...God makes it plain...
12 The righteous will flourish like palm trees;
they will grow like the cedars of Lebanon.
13 They are like trees planted in the house of the Lord,
that flourish in the Temple of our God,
14 that still bear fruit in old age
and are always green and strong.

Who are the righteous? The dictionary describes it as: acting in an upright, moral way; virtuous: a righteous and godly person. That's right...it's each and every believer.

Society would have us believe that once we reach a certain age (which is not very old at all) we are basically worthless. We must be young in order to bear fruit, the world would never describe a middle age or elderly person as "always green and strong". But that's how God sees us, and it's how He expects us to behave. So the next time someone tries to convince you that your best years are behind you, remember this verse and know that Our God and King can use us to the very end. We are never worthless in His eyes.