This pastor's blog post draws directly from Christopher D King's sermon “Guest Speaker Dr. Rodney Harrison” so you can keep engaging with the message all week. Read, reflect, and share it with your small group or friends.
Honoring God in Every Season: The Sanctity of Life from Beginning to End
As I shared with you this past Sunday, our commitment to the sanctity of life extends from conception to natural death. While many of our conversations around this topic focus on the beginning of life, today I want to explore what scripture teaches us about honoring God in our later years, and how we as a church can better serve those in vulnerable seasons of aging.
The Call to Care for the Vulnerable
In James 1:27, we read: "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."
James, who once struggled to accept Jesus as Messiah, came to understand that true religion isn't about empty rituals but active compassion. The word "visit" here means much more than dropping by for coffee. It means looking after, caring for, and entering into shared vulnerability with those who need us most.
As Missouri Baptists, we've recognized this calling since 1913 when we established Baptist Homes and Healthcare Ministries. This commitment becomes increasingly important as our state ages—today, more people in Missouri celebrate their 65th birthday than their 5th birthday.
The Fears and Challenges of Aging
Psalm 71 gives us a deeply personal glimpse into the heart of an aging believer. Though we don't know who wrote this psalm, we hear the authentic voice of someone wrestling with the realities of growing older:
"Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails. For my enemies speak against me, and those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together, saying, 'God has forsaken him; pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver him.' O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!" (Psalm 71:9-12)
These verses reveal the primary fears many seniors face:
- Loss of independence
- Declining physical strength
- Feeling abandoned or forgotten
- Vulnerability to those who might take advantage
- Fear of what tomorrow will bring
I'm reminded of the story of Gail, a woman who had recently moved into a nursing home. She was lonely, afraid, and sometimes disoriented. She prayed with hesitation and even anger: "Why, God? Why am I here? What did I do wrong?"
After months of prayer, an unexpected knock came at her door. Jim, a believer who had committed to serving God "anywhere, anyway, at any cost," found himself not in some exotic mission field, but in that nursing home hallway. Their meeting changed both their lives as Gail found renewed purpose in using her faith to minister to others in their final season of life.
When Perception Doesn't Match Reality
Sometimes our perception of what God is doing doesn't match reality. I shared with you the story of my earliest childhood memory—running into the street after a ball, despite my parents' warnings. When my mother snatched me away from an oncoming car and disciplined me, I felt angry and unloved. But was that reality? Of course not.
The psalmist's perception changes dramatically by the end of Psalm 71. Though his circumstances hadn't improved, his perspective had:
"You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth." (Psalm 71:20)
What changed? Not his situation, but his perspective—after spending time with God. This is the key for all of us in challenging seasons: spend time with God and let Him change your perspective.
Our Response as the Church
How can we fulfill James 1:27 in caring for our aging members and neighbors?
Recognize their continued value. Age doesn't diminish a person's worth in God's eyes.
Remember them. During the pandemic, a study showed that 95% of seniors had no contact with their church. Let's not let anyone be forgotten.
Visit them. Not just casual drop-ins, but meaningful care and presence.
Advocate for them. Stand up for the dignity and needs of the elderly in our community.
Learn from them. The aging have wisdom to share from a lifetime of walking with God.
The foundation for all of this is having our lives built upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Without that foundation, we'll struggle to find purpose and meaning in any season of life.
As we continue our commitment to the sanctity of life, let's remember those who are in the final chapters of their earthly journey. May we be a church that values and honors life at every stage, reflecting the heart of our God who never casts us off or forsakes us.
Watch the full sermon on our church YouTube channel or join us next Sunday for worship at 10:30am.
If you'd like to learn more about Baptist Homes and Healthcare Ministries or how you can serve seniors in our community, please contact the church office this week.
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