DOES AGE MAKE A DIFFERENCE                  "Put off the old man" Cols 3:9

                  Edward Proffitt Th. D.

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Moses was attending Jethroe's sheep and 'the Lord appeared unto him in a fame of fire out of the midst of a bush' Exodus 3;2. The Lord said to Mosses: 'Come I will send you to pharaoh". Paraphrasing Mosses reply, 'WHO ME"

 

That reply is a wild surprise, but a flock of sheep. He poses a striking figure. We ask "WHO ISTHE OLD CHAP" distinction, he is the son in law of a leading citizen Jethro. When he came totown year ago, he created quite a stir. Rumors had it that he has known better days and had a promising future, but for the past forty year he had done nothing but keep another man's sheep.That is probably all he will ever do because he is at least 80 years old.

 

If I had been there and had power of foreknowledge, I would have said "YOU ARE DEAD WRONG"I would have said "One of these days that old man is going to lead another flock with only a shepherd staff in his hand and God in his heart. But skepticism would say, his useful years are over, because he is of old age and you just cannot expect much. After all, everyone knows that revolutions are brought in by those younger.

 

You just don't see 80-year-old people outmarching in picket lines. It seems that the world today does not expect anything out of old  people. To most of the young generation old people are just a bothersome hassle. I cannot do What I use to do passing of years freezes enthusiasm and steals strength. Senility is for 80-year old's to say, "I AM AS GOOD A MAN AS I WAS 40". Moses said "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt (Exodus 3:3).

 

Through that burning bush God preached a three-point message to Moses: Point 1. You once burned like this bush. -- Point 2. Why did the fire go out. -- 3. Though the fire went out, it did not have to stay out. I think maybe God can see some of those three points in modern day reality. The healed man at the pool of Siloam cried out 'once i was blind but now I see" (John 9:25). With age, our generation is crying out 0 "'once I saw but now I am blind".

 

Todays cry is: I USE TO - ONCE I COULD - ONCE I DID -I'M TO OLD -I CAN'T - I'LL SET. Moses said 'who amI that I should go" (Exodus 3;12). The invitation of the burning bush was "Moses give God a chance"; ANDHE DID! When Moses said , WHO AM I, God said It's not a question of who you are it is a question of whoI AM, and "I AM THAT I AM"' (EXODUS 3:14). Itis not a question of age, or question of past failures. SureMoses failed in the past, but he put his life in Gods instruction and rest is history The burning bush to youand I speaks with "come and I will send you". If we will come unto HIm and put self in God's plan, regardlessof age or failures, God will take care of the rest and fit for the plan.