"As for wrinkles--Pshaw! Why shouldn't we have wrinkles? Honorable insignia of long service in this warfare." C.S. Lewis, Letters to an American Lady
The wrinkles, bruises and gray hair from this life are honorable badges of service to our God. Proverbs 16:31 states, "A gray head is a crown of glory; it is found in the way of righteousness." On the path of righteousness we are going to be bloodied, bruised, and wrinkled. Mature Christians are those who, to the world, might look a little tattered around the edges.
Our society tends to denigrate the elderly, to view them as useless and a burden. The Biblical model, however, is exactly the opposite. We are told to respect our elders and that the elderly are a fountain of knowledge. Deep knowledge, authentic truth is often only learned through adversity, and this adversity causes us to wrinkle, or to gray, or to be bruised.
C.S. Lewis's quote, however, is important on another level. Does God care what we look like on the outside. I am not saying we should completely ignore our appearance; however, we must always keep it in the proper perspective. God is much more worried about the condition of our hearts than He is about the wrinkles around my eyes. Perhaps, right now, you are feeling dried up and wrinkly. Perhaps right now you are bruised and battered by life. Try to look at your blemishes as badges. He has a purpose for your wrinkles. As it says in Proverbs, it is part of the path to righteousness.
The wrinkles, bruises and gray hair from this life are honorable badges of service to our God. Proverbs 16:31 states, "A gray head is a crown of glory; it is found in the way of righteousness." On the path of righteousness we are going to be bloodied, bruised, and wrinkled. Mature Christians are those who, to the world, might look a little tattered around the edges.
Our society tends to denigrate the elderly, to view them as useless and a burden. The Biblical model, however, is exactly the opposite. We are told to respect our elders and that the elderly are a fountain of knowledge. Deep knowledge, authentic truth is often only learned through adversity, and this adversity causes us to wrinkle, or to gray, or to be bruised.
C.S. Lewis's quote, however, is important on another level. Does God care what we look like on the outside. I am not saying we should completely ignore our appearance; however, we must always keep it in the proper perspective. God is much more worried about the condition of our hearts than He is about the wrinkles around my eyes. Perhaps, right now, you are feeling dried up and wrinkly. Perhaps right now you are bruised and battered by life. Try to look at your blemishes as badges. He has a purpose for your wrinkles. As it says in Proverbs, it is part of the path to righteousness.
As I approach 60 this quote becomes more and more comforting!
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