There is a phenomenon that has hit social media hard over the past couple of weeks: the \u201cFaceApp Challenge.\u201d In the event you\u2019ve been under a rock recently, the FaceApp augments pictures to make you look younger or, as most people were using it, older. The results are pretty funny and \u2014 in some cases, downright scary.<\/p>\n
But behind all the fun lies a profound truth in this new social media rave: We all will, eventually, age. It\u2019s a lot of fun to look at what fellow pastors in their mid-30s will look like in 40 years. But even as I laughed at my own picture, I was reminded that none of us stays young forever. Until Christ comes, age only moves one direction.<\/p>\n
And yet I think there are some key lessons we can learn from all of these friends posting these pictures of themselves 30 years older. Ecclesiastes 12 reminds us that, eventually, age catches up with us all. While the concept of youth may be somewhat subjective, the point remains that you are older today than you were yesterday.<\/p>\n
So remember your Creator in the days of your youth: While the concept of youth may be somewhat subjective, the point remains that you are older today than you were yesterday. But it also is true that you are younger today than you will be tomorrow! So, let us focus our attention on a couple of principles that aging teaches us about discipleship.<\/p>\n 1. We have the opportunity to learn from past mistakes.<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the glorious things about the gospel is that we do not have to be defined by who we once were (or what we once did). As believers, we are defined by who we are in Christ. As we are in community with one another, we have opportunities to learn from others\u2019 mistakes \u2014 \u00a0and also to pass along the lessons we\u2019ve learned to others.<\/p>\n
\nBefore the days of adversity come,
\nAnd the years approach when you will say,
\n\u201cI have no delight in them.”\u00a0(Eccl. 12:1, CSB)<\/em><\/p>\n