Never Too Old

Psalms 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

The world lost a precious saint yesterday. This man has been a clown, a business owner, a veteran, a husband, and father. He only just within the last 3 years received Christ as his personal savior. At the young age of 68, he made the decision to change what most his age would be set in their ways about. He was in bad health for years before his conversion, but I dare say no one who knew him would have predicted this detour this late in life.

Before he was saved all would say he was a loveable guy. He loved life but, he would have told that he was empty in his purpose before Jesus. When he would have to be admitted for his failing health, there was always fear and maybe even some anger at the condition with which he had no control over.

After he got saved he became very involved with the church he attended. He quickly became part of the family, and knew no strangers. The members also were drawn to him. He and his pastor had a close relationship through prayer. He would tell you that he was enjoying the last two years of life more than any of the previous 68.

But soon his heart was catching up with him. The admissions into the hospital were more and more frequent. He would go into the hospital with congestive heart failure and would always come home feeling much better. Eventually though he had to be put on permanent oxygen. You could hear the clicking of his tank in the church services that he faithfully attended. His smile would never dim. His charm would never cease.

A couple of Sunday nights ago from this writting, after an unusually harsh stay at the hospital. He made an unexpected attendence. He was visibily weak. He got up to give a word of testamony as his custom was. This time however everybody in the congregation (including himself) knew this was probably the last time he would do this. He expressed his disapointment at not being able to bounce back from this one as he did in the past. But, he never, never doubted the love of his Savior.

He died on Monday April 3 at 3am. We will miss him. But two exciting thoughts just bubble to the top: 1) God can transform anyones life at any age into something beautiful and memorable; 2) The memorable moments and people may end here on earth, but through Jesus the Christ both will last for eternity.

By the way, this man was saved through a co-worker of his wife's.