'very old'

"You are very old."

You can cope with that (just about) when it's a P3 pupil who's saying such a thing. At that age, anyone out of their teens must seem pretty old. Age is always relative.

But how do you feel when it's God who's speaking the words?

I mean, if God, who's been around for all eternity, starts saying you're old, then you're plainly no longer the metaphorical spring chicken.

Not that he's said that to me. Or not exactly.

But I was reading this morning from the book of Joshua and was struck by the way that the Lord spoke to this man Joshua long ago.

"You are very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over."

I shared the sentiment. I sometimes feel my age; and the sense of so much that's unfinished in what I'm seeking to do is sometimes almost overwhelming.

But is my age an excuse for easing off? No way!

In case I'm tempted to think like that, the very next bit of the book of Joshua reminds me of a man called Caleb.

"Here I am today, eighty five years old!"

And then this -

"I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then."

There's a lot that's still to be done. I'm aware of that. And yes, I'm not getting younger.

But that's not, I guess, the point. It's not my age that counts.

It's my strength and my vigour.

It's my faith and resolve.

It's my love for the Lord.