1 Corinthians 15:54-57: “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
One of the joys of serving a multi-generational church is the relationships that I get to develop with older adults that I would never naturally spend time with during the rest of my week. They’ve been incredibly supportive and encouraging towards a young pastor, including one older brother offering my favorite at the door comment: “Don’t worry, you’ll get better.”
Some of our older members have been here so long, it seems like they’ll be here forever. But, that is not any of our story. We all will die soon. We have two such women in our church currently approaching death. One is at home in hospice, the other in the hospital, but both will (short of God’s saving hand) be face-to-face with their savior this Sunday, instead of their seats at church.
I will miss them both.
I didn’t come to Grace to work with “old folks.” I came to work with young adults. It’s in my title: “Pastor of Young Adults.” But the love, mission, passion, and humor of the older generation has won me over, too.
Too often in college ministry older adults are sorted into two categories:
1. Obstacles: They won’t let me do what I want.
2. Resources: Potential mentors, givers, prayers, etc.
Some older adults are great resources for college ministry. Others are genuine (and obnoxious) obstacles. But most are neither. They are sinners saved by grace, trying to reconcile the fact that they are not as they would want to be (just like the rest of us). And they are dying (just like the rest of us).
But, in Christ, death is conquered. My friends, rest in peace, but only for a time. Christ is coming again soon.
Bob Wriedt 