“Motion is the Lotion”
- We know our time on earth is brief, a vapor.
- We know our hair will grey, fall out, or thin on our scalp.
- We know our bodies will ache even more as we age.
Thus, the question becomes: When should we stop serving our LORD?
There is a story told of a 100-meter race, one that a young woman of 105 ran. Julia retained her ‘racing’ form by staying in the ‘race’ throughout her days. She never allowed herself to sit down, to quit, to give up straining toward her goal. No, Julia’s race was not a quick sprint, but one of determination and completion. Julia was determined to continue running sprints, even though she had reached her 105th birthday. She remained faithful in her training, keeping her body moving (though aging). As my son-in-law often states: “Motion is the Lotion” that keeps our bodies moving, long into life, and Julia Hawkins (a lady they call ‘Hurricane’) aptly proves this true.
- So, does this “Motion is the Lotion” apply to serving the LORD?
- Should we ever allow ourselves to sit down, to quit, to give up straining toward the LORD?
The apostle Paul, God’s servant, wrote to Titus, a fellow-child of God, detailing this very topic, speaking both to older men and older women.
“Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.
(The Letter of Paul to Titus 2: 2-5 NAS)
Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,
so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”
- There is so much we (the seasoned) can do to reach others for Christ.
- There is also so much we (the ones with many celebrated birthdays) can do to help others grow in their faith.
Finally, there is a standard that seasoned men and women can follow, one that will serve us (the aging ones) to run our race well, to serve and honor our LORD. We can be—
- Temperate
- Dignified
- Sensible
- Sound in Faith
- In Love
- Persevering to the End
- Reverent in Actions
- Not Malicious Gossips
- Not Drinking Wine to Drunkenness
- Teaching what is Good
- Encouragers to Young Women
- Sensible
- Pure
- Working Hard at Home
- Kind
- Respectful to their Husbands
- Obedient to the Word of God
God’s purpose for us, for the righteous, for those who have been saved by Jesus Christ is really quite simple. We are to flourish, to bud, to sprout & to flower—until the very end. Therefore, we must not stop moving, never stop doing, and not cease serving our LORD.
“The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree,
(The Psalms 92: 12-15 NAS)
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Planted in the house of the LORD,
They will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still yield fruit in old age;
They shall be full of sap and very green,
To declare that the LORD is upright;
He is my rock,
and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”
Budding—Sprouting—Flowering—Running Until the End—does not mean run faster or work harder. Rather, this means—We are to keep allowing the LORD to use us, to guide our ‘Motion’ to the very end of our earthly days. We are to grow deep roots in the soil of the LORD, allowing the Father to help us serve well until the last day of our life.
- Be rooted in God.
- Make our home in God through Jesus.
- Then remain faithful throughout life, staying active in the LORD.
Remain Faithful to our Savior & Glorify God.