Scripture is filled with examples of men and women whom God used

In the tapestry of life, the passage of time is inevitable. The body ages, the bones grow weary, and the energy that once surged with youthful vigor begins to wane. Yet, in this ever-advancing journey, there lies a profound truth: age is not a barrier to purpose, nor a reason to abandon the calling that stirs within the heart. The words of Billy Graham, the great evangelist, resonate deeply with the timeless wisdom of the ancients: “Scripture is filled with examples of men and women whom God used late in life, often with great impact - men and women who refused to use old age as an excuse to ignore what God wanted them to do.” These words remind us that age is not a limitation but a tool that can be wielded for greatness if the heart remains open to the divine call.

The Scriptures themselves are filled with stories of men and women who, in the latter years of their lives, answered the call to serve with immense courage and devotion. Consider the story of Abraham, who, at the age of 75, was called by God to leave the land of his fathers and embark on a journey to a land promised to him and his descendants. It was a call that required faith in the face of uncertainty and a willingness to step into the unknown. In his later years, Abraham did not allow the limitations of age to hinder the work that God had set before him. His obedience in those years bore fruit in the formation of a nation that would impact the course of history for generations to come.

Similarly, Moses, that great leader of the Israelites, was called at the age of eighty to lead his people out of the land of Egypt, to deliver them from bondage and into the promised land. His strength was not in his physical prowess, but in his obedience to the call of God. It is said that Moses, despite his initial hesitation and doubt, never allowed the burden of his age to define him. Instead, he answered the divine call with a steadfast faith that moved mountains. His life is a testament to the power of purpose and obedience at any stage, for God does not call the young alone but uses all who are willing to serve, no matter the years they carry.

But there is no greater example of this truth than the story of Sarah, Abraham’s wife, who bore a son, Isaac, at the age of ninety. Her faith in God's promise was unwavering, even in the face of laughter and disbelief from others. Sarah, in her old age, became the mother of nations, showing us that it is never too late to bear fruit for the kingdom of God. Her story is a powerful reminder that age does not disqualify us from fulfilling the purposes for which we were created. It is not the physical body that limits us, but the condition of the heart—the willingness to say "yes" to the divine call.

The ancients knew that purpose does not diminish with age. The Greek philosopher Socrates continued to teach well into his later years, imparting wisdom that would shape the world for centuries. His clarity of thought, honed over a lifetime of questioning and searching, became a beacon of truth for those who would follow. Similarly, Confucius, whose words continue to inspire to this day, was a man who refused to allow the limitations of his age to silence him. His later years were marked not by the decline of his wisdom but by its deepening and broadening reach. These wise souls lived in the knowledge that purpose and service transcend the physical, for the call to serve is not confined by the years we live but by the strength of our inner commitment to truth, love, and obedience.

What, then, is the lesson we are to learn from these sacred and historical examples? The calling of God and the purpose set before us do not expire with the passing of years. Age is not a reason to withdraw from the work set before us, nor is it a reason to relinquish the hope and passion that were ignited in our youth. Rather, age is an opportunity to deepen and refine our service to the world, to share the wisdom gained through our struggles, to become vessels through which the divine purpose flows more powerfully.

Let us take this lesson into our own lives: when the years seem to weigh heavy, let us remember the example of those who served faithfully in their later years. Let us never use our age as an excuse to abandon our purpose, for the work of God is not bound by time. Whether we are young or old, we are all called to serve, to love, and to make a difference. May we, like Abraham, Moses, and Sarah, respond to the divine call with boldness, faith, and a willingness to continue the work that God has set before us, regardless of our age. For in doing so, we honor the purpose that transcends our fleeting years and leaves an eternal mark upon the world.