Focus: Evening Of Life

Text: Eccl.11:6

"In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good."

Life has its evening for all of us. The morning time of our lives speaks of the time when we are youthful and surging with energy. Then we are in the prime time of our lives, dreaming dreams and seeing visions. It is the period of adolescence when hope serves as a good breakfast. We are fed with hope and we are excited about life. We just want to live and enjoy life in every respect. 

The afternoon period of our lives has to do with our middle age season of life when we are striving to achieve our dreams, be and do our best. We are active, creative, and even combative. We set goals and pursue them. The evening season of life is a time when we are winding down, becoming less and less productive and uninterested. We are retiring instead of re-firing. We are less passionate about anything and everything. Energy wanes, and as science makes us understand, at this time of our lives the law of diminishing returns is set in motion within our system. It is the period of old age when hope becomes a bad super. A biblical writer says that hope deferred makes the heart sick. It is sickening to be hoping forever for something, especially when it appears so close to the eyes, but so far away that the hand can't reach or touch it.

John the beloved has something to say about these three segments of our age. He says, "I write unto you, LITTLE CHILDREN, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake… I write unto you, LITTLE CHILDREN, because ye have known the Father… LITTLE CHILDREN, keep yourselves from idols. Amen" (1Jh.2:12,13; 5:21). This is spiritual infancy or adolescence.

John says, "I write unto you, YOUNG MEN, because ye have overcome the wicked one… I have written unto you, YOUNG MEN, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one" (1Jh.2:13,14). This is spiritual adulthood or middle age. There's power in display.

Finally, John says, "I write unto you, FATHERS, because ye have known him that is from the beginning… I have written unto you, FATHERS, because ye have known him that is from the beginning" (1Jh.2:13,14). This is spiritual maturity or old age. The grey hairs of age and wisdom are now showing, and knowledge is now at the helm of affairs, not energy.

Now back to where we left off. Our text says, "In the evening withhold not your hands." 

As far as the kingdom of God is concerned, we never retire from doing good, touching lives, and expanding God's sphere of influence in the world.

Paul says, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Gal.6:9). There's no retirement in doing good. There's no retirement in living a godly life. There's no retirement in serving God. There's no retirement from a life of prayer. There's no retirement from practicing faith in Christ. Christianity is not a part time job. You can't serve God enough. You can't afford to serve God only for a while. You sow and keep sowing both in the morning and in the evening periods of your life. Don't withhold your hands at any time. Don't say to yourself, I have done enough, and so, let me rest from my labors! As long as you have breath in your lungs, keep serving God and keep supporting kingdom causes. Paul, though he was ready to die and be with the Lord, preferred to live in the flesh for a little longer in order to continue to lighten the world around him. He said, "And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith" (Phil.1:25). 

Don't let old age keep you from letting your light shine among men! Even at old age you can still dream dreams and do exploits in the name of the Lord. God is good to us at all times; so let's be good to Him! Serve the Lord till death! Live and die in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ! "In the evening withhold not your hands."

by Bishop Moses E. Peter