The Unseen Strength of Experience

Deuteronomy 31:2

And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.

I see a sad statement in this verse that reminds me of the many older preachers who are no longer able to pastor or preach. Moses said, I can no more go out and come in. Age finally caught up to Moses. As much as he did not like it, the days when he led Israel forward to journey and to battle were now gone. The energy he once had is gone. The vibrant health had turned into days of continual ailments that kept him from going out and coming in. Wrinkled skin had replaced the youthful look. A limp had replaced the swiftness of running. A humped back had replaced the strength to do anything he put his mind to. Broken-down knees had replaced the strength of legs to climb any mountain and run any race. The warrior everyone once looked to for courage was now no longer able to go out or come in.

Hold on! Before you put this old veteran out to pasture or send him to the glue factory, this old veteran still has great use for the battle. Those who are able to go out and come in ought to run to the old grizzled veteran and pick his brain about God’s power, how to fight the battles, and how to live on the victory side. To Joshua’s credit, that is what he did, and I believe that is why God used him to become the next great leader for Israel.

My friend, it is easy to want to run to the youthful preacher who understands the lingo of the day. It is easy to be attracted to youth that seems to have a bright future. It is easy to want to be around the up-and-coming preacher who is wanted by the large conferences to preach to the larger crowds. But, let me remind you that there is an old veteran preacher who has been there and done that. He is no longer able to come in and go out as he once used to do. He no longer has the health that helped him build the great church and preach week in and week out around the country. But, before you run to the young buck, you might ought to run to the old veteran who is more valuable because of his mind and what he knows. His mind is still as youthful as it has always been, but now the youthfulness of mind has added the years of wisdom that you would be foolish to ignore. Let me address two things about this truth.

First, don't forsake the aged because they no longer can do what the youth can do. I am not as young as I used to be, but I still feel I have many more productive years to go. One thing I have purposely done in my life and ministry is to spend time with older men asking them how to do what I want to do. These older preachers who can no longer do what they once did have a plethora of wisdom to help if you will only ask. If you are still able to go in and come out, get around the older men to gain their wisdom instead of setting them aside for a younger man who can quote cute cliché but has yet to build something great. The wisdom of the aged won't come to you; you must go to them to ask.

Second, if you are the one who can no longer come in or go out, don't ignore those who are trying to gain your wisdom. You may feel that you don't have much to offer, but your mind is of great importance to the work of the Lord. When a younger believer reaches out to you, reach back to him and help. God has given you years of wisdom not to hide, but to use to encourage and help the younger generation do what you have already done.