Like A Tree Planted By The Water

Isaiah 46:4

Like a Tree planted by the Water

“Old age ain’t no place for sissies” is a saying on my coffee mug. Advancing years brings a variety of aches and pains that would like to take over in our body and bring along a feeling of discouragement and depression if we let it. As birthdays come and go we often try to make a joke of them and say, “I’m over the hill now” or give someone a bunch of black balloons for their birthday or a rear view mirror. We have many scriptures that tell us that we should be optimistic about every stage of our life. We have heard the saying, “When things get tough, the tough get going.” Healing does not cease just because we have reached a certain number of years in our lives. The verse, “I am the Lord that healeth you” doesn’t one day expire and you wake up finding that the Lord has forsaken you. In the Psalms David cried out to the Lord, “Do not discard me in my old age, do not forsake me when my strength is gone” (Psalm 71:9). Isaiah 46:4 NIV has an answer for us, “Even in your old age and gray hair, I am he who will sustain thee. I have made you and I will carry you; and will sustain you; and rescue you.” We will not “just exist” as we age but we can continue to be a fruitful person. Psalm 92:14 tells us, “In old age they will still bear fruit.” The verse goes on to say even in your old age I will be the same. Well, doesn’t scripture say, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday today and forever?” David looks back to days past and says, “O God, you have taught me from my youth, and to this day I declare your wonderous works” (Psalm 71:17 NKJV).

“I will hope continually and will praise you yet more nd more’ (Psalm 71:14).

Because of God’s faithfulness throughout all of life’s stages, we will continue to hope in him and praise him.

Scripture says the Lord inhabits the praise of his people. He lives right in the middle of our praises. Let us be assured that he indeed does hear us when we call out to him just like David did. I John 5:15 NIV says, “And if we know He hears us,--whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.” Other translations say we already have it. So praise and thanksgiving right now is appropriate.

Not only will the Lord sustain us and keep us productive but scripture likens us to a tree that is planted by the water—not a tree that just sprang up out of no where but a tree that is cared for and tended regularly and this tree shall stay fresh and green and bear fruit.

Do you feel old and unfruitful? Be encouraged God still has fruitful ministry for you to do. Psalm 71:16 says, “I will go in the strength of the Lord God.” I will put one foot ahead of the other and keep going for He sustains me.

What is the key to bearing fruit now you know that it is possible? The key is found in John 15:4-5 NIV. “Remain in me as I remain in you. No branch can bear fruit of itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Being connected to Jesus keeps us fresh and green even as we age with new ideas flowing through us bearing fruit. If we fail to stay connected to Him, we cannot bear fruit throughout the length of our life. Many people say, “I’m retired now. I guess I will take it easy,” but there is no retirement from Jesus. We can have the very life of Jesus flowing though us at any age, young or old. Stay connected to him.

There is an old song that reminds us that we shall not be moved away from Jesus. We can be determined to plant our feet securely and not be moved away from Jesus throughout our life.

I shall not be, I shall not be moved.

I shall not be, I shall not be moved,

Just like a tree that’s planted by the water, I shall not be moved.