“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” (I Corinthians 13:11 NIV)
After service on Sunday, one of the church members stopped at a nearby gas station. He was running on a spiritual high, but his car was running on “E.” According to the instrument panel he had 22 miles to go before running out of gas. In his younger days he would have waited until the indicator said he had 2-3 miles to go. You know how that goes!
As he was filling up his gas tank, a familiar car pulls up on the other side. Not only was the car familiar, but so was the person who got out of the car wearing workout gear. Obviously, he had been to the gym. Let me be clear. It was not because you could tell by his physical appearance, but because of his attire. Was it time well spent? Who knows, right?
The two men both ask those type of questions that are usually not answered but are responded to by an up and down movement of the head. Questions like, “What’s up?” “How are you doing?” The man who had just left church, the worship man, told the other man, the workout man, “I haven’t seen you in church for years now. What happened?” The response: “Oh, I attended church for 25 years and I think I have heard it all before.” The worship man who just left church had time to share something with the other person, the workout man, something that we should all keep in mind in the advancing years of life that the Lord blesses us to see. He says, “Yes, you may have heard somethings before but get this. I learned that the preached word is received through a different mental lens or prism as you get older.” The workout man who had skipped worship says, “What does that mean?” Armed with an appropriate and applicable response, the worship man who had been to worship and not to the workout facility on the Lord’s Day says, “When you were younger and healthy and you were at the peak of success and troubling times were minimal, you were not moved by the scripture that says, ‘Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’” The workout man does not say anything, but his face reveals that he is pondering, considering the words that were spoken by the worship man. The worship man continues, “Now that we are senior citizens, that takes on a different meaning” Think about it.” Still not finished, the worship man says, “Even those old songs take on a different meaning. For instance, when you were young you just sang “Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior” by memory. If you listen to the words today, during times where you find yourself needing the Lord to see you through trying times and give you a triumphant spirit, you will see those same exact words through a much different lens. They will have a much more relevant meaning for you.” With that being said, the worship man hears the pump click where he is filling up his car, signaling that it is all fueled up. But before rushing to disconnect the gas pump hose, the worship man says, “Think about that lens! Okay?” The workout man nods his head up and down, seeming to indicate that he will do as the worship man said. Now we will never know whether or not the workout man would think about “the lens” and consider how the word has a different, specific meaning personally, as we age.
We will never know if the workout man returned to church. But one thing we can be sure of, right? You and I will know that the same scripture and the same songs, even if sang in an updated multi-instrument version; they will have meaning for us that matches where we are chronologically, socially, physically, and spiritually.
Think about what you just read, my friend. Continue to study the word! Continue to hear preaching! Continue to sing songs in the sanctuary! Continue being a “worship man” or a “worship woman,” for the Lord has something specific to say to you every time you come to the house of the Lord. Be blessed!
“For the Lord gives [skillful and godly] wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6 Amplified Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King