(I apologize for the formatting. The structure of the lesson came from here.)
Tonight is a continuation of last Sunday’s lesson on “The Seasons of Life” inspired by Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 and Genesis 1:14-15. Last Sunday J______ and D_____ discussed the Spring and Summer of life which encompassed childhood and early adulthood. Tonight I am the opening act and will discuss the Fall of life or mature adulthood. And S______ will close the show discussing the last stage of life using the metaphor of Winter.
What got me interested in this topic was one afternoon I was visiting my parents and I realized that I was married, realized I am still a student, realized my wife was in San Antonio, realized my school was in Blacksburg, realized my parents were getting older, realized my dog was getting old, realized I didn’t have a real job, realized that we live in a dangerous world, realized my thick comforter was in San Antonio and realized that we had a church picnic starting in an hour, and there was an interesting professional development seminar starting in an hour and a half in Blacksburg, and I was two and half hours away in Crozet. I kind-of freaked out. My life was getting complicated, my life was spiraling out-of-control, my life was changing rapidly, and I questioned how well I was handling it. I remembered 1 Peter 5:7: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Other translations use the word “anxiety.” “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” I am not supposed to worry or harbor anxiety. I am supposed to cast all my anxieties onto the Lord. I needed to pray, but I realized I was still learning how to pray. In other words, I wasn’t where I wanted to be. I wanted to be better. And I wanted it right then. Even today, I want to be better right now.
The next morning I made it back to Christiansburg and KW was telling a story in class about having to eat with and receive an award from a 3 star general, and how he was so nervous, but how in the end he got through it. And I realized that my current situation was just life, that we find ways to get through things, and some day relatively soon my wife and I will live together, and I will have a job and that will lead to a whole new set of realizations and challenges. This is just a season in my life.
In the context of this lesson, even though I am the old man of this class, I am still in and really just beginning the summer of my life. I haven’t learned all the things I need to learn. I haven’t learned patience. I haven’t developed the habits needed to be a mature “man.” I haven’t really learned what it takes to be a husband much less a father.
And that is okay because the important thing for me is to continue growing, especially as a Christian. God designed us to grow. 1 Corinthians 3 is a powerful chapter in so many ways. Paul is addressing a community of people, but his metaphors of moving from drinking milk in infancy to solid food and building on the foundation of Christ also applies to us as individuals today. We as individuals must grow and build upon the foundation of Christ, and this requires time. “For everything there truly is a season.” There is comfort in the fact that we get to grow, we get to mature, and our past mistakes can be left behind.
The Bible gives us great examples of this principle. Abraham, Moses, and David made mistakes, but they grew and became men of God. Peter and Paul made mistakes, but they developed in to worthy disciples who spread the Word to the ends of this Earth. Their growth didn’t happen overnight. It took time. They all went through tough times. They all sinned, but they came out the other side as true Men of God. If they can do it, why can’t I? Why can’t we? I found this idea of growth to be very comforting. It doesn’t take away our personal responsibility to deny temptation and avoid sin, but it does help us appreciate more fully what Christ’s sacrifice really meant for us. James 1:2-5 tells us:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
We will go through trials, but if we hold on to faith and ask God for wisdom, we will receive the greatest gifts.
Now, finally, getting to the meat of tonight’s lesson, with all apologies to D_____ and summer, I think the most fruitful season of this growth is fall. It is when we get to reap the rewards of summer. The shift from young adulthood into mature adulthood is the point where individuals start to understand more precisely what God requires of them and also understand the habits needed to meet these requirements. It is the point where priorities are permanently established. As one grows older, some strength and energy leaves, but wisdom increases. Habits become refined, and the mistakes of the past that required extra strength and energy are avoided. There comes a time in a person’s life when they know what to do, how to do it, and still have the ability to do it. This is the fall of life. This is the mature adult.
An example comes from working with my Dad. He has always sold fruits and vegetables. Banana boxes come in 40 pound boxes. When I was young I would always lift two at a time and carry them to the display. My dad always used a cart. Let’s just say, as I have gotten older I understand the multiple benefits of using a cart. He could always fill up the bananas faster than I could. Now the last time I was home he admitted that when he was young he always carried everything too.
Being a mature Christian also carries increased responsibilities. The responsibilities center on continuing to build and share knowledge. Now that one finally “gets it” they have to continue “getting it,” share what they know, and start to broaden their concerns and perspectives.
Besides better habits and skills to deal with life, a mature adult continues to build knowledge. He continues to build better habits. He learns from failures. He more fully trusts God, and this trust leads him deeper into Christ and the Bible. By this time in life, the primary lessons of the Bible have been learned, and a mature adult moves to secondary lessons. It is not enough to superficially know the Bible. A mature adult must appreciate the deep lessons of Christ and the living God. Last week, J____ implored us to read the Bible every day. I am ashamed to admit that I have only recently learned how to do this effectively. But mature adults in the fall of their lives have no problem with reading the Bible every day. They not only read the Word, they live the Word. We read this in Colossians 1:10:
10 rthat you may walk worthy of the Lord, sfully pleasing Him, tbeing fruitful in every good work and increasing in the uknowledge of God;
The Fall of life also requires the mature adult to take what they have learned and to share it. This is another big difference from young adulthood. A husband and father who has young children is rightfully limited. His first responsibility is to grow and provide for his family. A young wife and mother has similar and probably greater commitments to family. But older men and older women have to take the next step to grow the Kingdom of God. They have to begin to mentor others and teach classes and be involved in the church. As Hebrews 5:12-14 tells us:
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the 2oracles of God; and you have come to need qmilk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is ra babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are 3of full age, that is, those who by reason of 4use have their senses exercised sto discern both good and evil.
Similarly, the Fall of Life also has to be a time when mature Christians broaden their concerns. They have move away from themselves and their families and move towards greater selflessness. The selfishness of youth disappears and the selflessness of Christ must start to appear. Leadership qualities must develop. Mature adulthood is the time when we can go on mission trips, where we can begin to really spread the Word and Good News of Christ to the ends of the Earth. It is a time where we must go beyond our comfort zones. As Philippians 2:4 states:
4 gLet each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of hothers.
And it is in everyone’s interest to hear about Christ and the Living God.
To conclude, mature adulthood is about developing a toughness, an emotional toughness that prevents the foolishness of young adulthood. It prevents one from losing sight of our heavenly home because of the ugliness of the world. It is a certainty that comes with age and wisdom. It is a peace and patience that allows mature Christians to be true lights to the world. As Proverbs 20:28 says:
“The glory of young men is their strength,
And bthe splendor of old men is their gray head.”
As a young man, I am comforted by the fact that if I study and pray, and cast all my anxieties onto the Lord, I will reap great rewards. And this comfort and perseverance is something we really have to hold onto in the latter stages of our lives, the winter of our lives.
