The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in him.” Psalm 92:12-15 ESV

Baxter will be 72 in November and I will be 71 in October. This scripture is our goal for this time in our life. We don’t expect to be the people we were in our 40s or 50s. But clearly, old age does not mean that Believers cannot bear fruit.

This scripture says we can be “full of sap and green”. How marvelous. We can be full of life and still serve. I don’t think this just means we will all be strong physically maybe some will be…but we will be so strong in our hearts and spirits that Abba God can still use us in the kingdom.

We have many mature oaks in our yard. When I think of how old they are, I realize that after years and years of life, they stand sure and strong. They provide shade and beauty. And bear fruit. Every year, there is a huge crop of acorns. The next spring or the next, there are little sprouts everywhere. Leave them a couple of years and you have a sapling that has put down roots so deep, it cannot be uprooted. They are bearing fruit in old age. I want to be like those oak trees.

I must tell this small sideline story. I have a wonderful friend, Alicia. We both talk about the things we can still do. One day, I was talking about unloading 40 and 50 pound feed bags and not feeling any effects the next day. She totally agreed with me, but with a chuckle, she said, “But opening a jar…turning a jar lid…was a totally different matter!” We were hysterical. ( Just an example that we will remain mighty in some areas and weaken a little in other areas.)

So our spiritual job may change. Some of the mightiest people I know are in their 80s. They are up in their beds before dawn, maybe with coffee, maybe not and interceding for hours. They pound the doors of Heaven on behalf of others. They are “full of sap and green”. They are “planted in the house of the Lord”. Sometimes, I wonder what mighty answers come because of their prayers.

It is His life within us that makes us flourish. It is because of Him we will bear fruit in old age. It is because of Him we are “ever green and full of sap”. Then we will all declare together that “the Lord is upright: He is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”