Hey Rosemary,
[How do we deal with getting old?]
Written: January 2024 [at age 76]

This is a copy of a letter written my ex-wife [with a few additional scriptural references added]. It is posted here because it deals with a problem faced by many married couples, as well as you; and includes your relationships with your family and friends as well. It is not really about me; the referenced scriptures are the only important thing and they apply to everyone...

I’ve been thinking and thinking Rose, about what you said in your last email, that

“We don't get older and better and it is a difficult thing to accept!”

While I fully understand what you are saying, and I tried to show my understanding of why so many people do believe that way, by sharing some of my own chronic health problems; I do still feel the need to make clear getting older and dying is not a belief I can [or want to] share. My hope is to continue alive forever... (Job 33:13-30) While I do realize and appreciate you continued on to say:

"but we do have the assurance that there's a better brighter day coming and the best is yet to come for those in Christ";

that sounds like you believe death and a resurrection is our determined and only possible future. My hope, however, is to go on living forever, right here on the earth. (Mat 25:34; Psa 37:29; Mat 25:34) That is to say, I think that "brighter day" has arrived... If you remember, when we were young and still married, we were interested in and talked about the Bible quite a bit. I asked two preachers from churches we attended, Penley and the one from Whittier Lane Baptist, what they thought the best study Bible was. They both, without hesitation or reservation, recommended the Thompson Chain Reference King James Translation. So, I drove to Indy to the publisher and bought us a brand new leather bound Thompson Chain Reference red letter edition King James Bible. It is an excellent Bible. I still have it and have learned a great deal from it. Mostly today, however, I study from more modern English translations. It does seem however, the King James is the Bible translation you prefer. So, I will herein quote mostly from the King James translation in deference to your faith, as I make my defense of my hope. (1 Pet 3:15)

My hope, then, is to have my health protected by God such that His Spirit will return me to my youthful health and vigor. My faith is my flesh will become fresher than a child's. Please do note: That is my hope because that “is” what God promised in the Bible Book of Job [and in other scriptures as well]. Please consider God's promise of a never ending life:

Job 33:22-25 KJV Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. (23) If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: (24) Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit (grave): I have found a ransom. (25) His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:

I beg you allow, please, that I also quote these same verses a second time; this time in more context and from a “modern English” Bible translation. [The Good News Bible by the American Bible Society. It is a nondenominational translation as I can tell; not produced by JW's or any other sect.]:

Job 33:13-33 Good News Bible "Why do you accuse God of never answering our complaints? (14) Although God speaks again and again, no one pays attention to what he says.~
- [Reference: Heb 1:1-2 God has spoken to us "again and again" in many ways over the centuries, but in these last days (the last 2000 years) He has spoken by means of his son."
  - The one same question should arise in each of us who have realized how God speaks to us. (Heb 1:2; Mark 9:7) It is this: Are we really listening to Jesus, by reading the four Gospels recording his life and teachings; (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) so as to be certain we are hearing what God is telling us through Christ. (Mat 24:23-25; Mat 17:5) We must also listen to the rest of God's Word?]

~(15) At night when people are asleep, God speaks in dreams and visions. [Dreams and visions and prophets in ancient times, but now in our day, through his Son . (Heb 1:1-2)] (16) He makes them listen to what he says, and they are frightened at his warnings. (17) God speaks to make them stop their sinning and to save them from becoming proud. (18) He will not let them be destroyed; he saves them from death itself. (19) God corrects us by sending sickness and filling our bodies with pain. (20) Those who are sick lose their appetites, and even the finest food looks revolting. (21) Their bodies waste away to nothing; you can see all their bones; (22) they are about to go to the world of the dead. (23) Perhaps an angel may come to their aid--- one of God's thousands of angels, who remind us of our duty. (24) In mercy the angel will say, "Release them! They are not to go down to the world of the dead. Here is the ransom to set them free." (25) Their bodies will grow young and strong again; (26) when they pray, God will answer; they will worship God with joy; God will set things right for them again. (27) Each one will say in public, "I have sinned. I have not done right, but God spared me. (28) He kept me from going to the world of the dead, and I am still alive." (29) God does all this again and again; (30) each one saves a person's life, and gives him the joy of living. (31) Now, Job, listen to what I am saying; be quiet and let me speak. (32) But if you have something to say, let me hear it; I would gladly admit you are in the right. (33) But if not, be quiet and listen to me, and I will teach you how to be wise.

I also believe what Jesus himself told Martha would happen to those alive at the time of his return:

John 11:25-26 KJV Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Now I do know the earth will be destroyed [cleansed]; as the Bible says it was also destroyed in the days of Noah,~

Luke 17:26-30 KJV And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. (27) They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. (28) Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; (29) But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. (30) Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

~but I also believe God when He many times told me this beautiful earthly ball that is part of his wondrous creation is perfect (Gen 1:31) and is my home forever:

2 Peter 3:12-13 KJV Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (13) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Matthew 25:34 KJV Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared [or created] for you from the foundation of the world:

Matthew 24:36-39 KJV But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (37) But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (38) For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, (39) And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

1 Peter 3:20 KJV . . .when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Ecclesiastes 1:4 KJV One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

Psalms 37:10-11 KJV For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. (11) But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Psalms 37:29 KJV The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

I believe my faith will provide the revelation of these promises by God, both for and in me. Well, to be starkly forthright, that's the faith I am “trying” to have and hold on to. We will each one see soon enough; both if our "hope" is real; and, if our "faith" is real... My immediate hope is considering these scriptures with you can help you have a more ~~positive~~ happy attitude toward our old age. Before my hope of staying alive forever, considered from the Book of Job and the other quoted scriptures, I felt the same distress Jesus Christ seems to have felt when he was facing death. (Mat 26:36-39; Luke 12:50) Jesus did say something that used to seem very curious to me; before this hope I now make known. Jesus said we would do works greater than he did! (John 14:12) What...? For many years I wondered what works I could possibly do that would be greater than those of Christ. This hope of living forever exposes the only work I can imagine I might do, by putting faith in Christ, that is greater than what Jesus did. My greater work is to know God has helped me, by means of my faith in his son, to escape death; to begin to live right now and for evermore in faith and "without fear of death." (John 5:24; John 11:25-26) Even Jesus himself did not have that hope. (Mat 16:21) In that particular way, my hope is greater! You mentioned the kindhearted but largely valueless quips young people give us old ones, about how great we look "for our age" or as "compared to others our age." Remember: They do mean well. Most younger people, however, [even 20 years younger makes a huge difference] are too busy with living their own lives, and maybe not yet having been made wise enough by years of time alive, to consider such “old age” things as we must contend with. In some sense they might not be expected to. They will be greatly helped if they do! You and I, though, are not too young... Well, hopefully we have gained wisdom to see! No reason to chastise me if you choose to disagree with my expressed hope. I do understand many or even most people share the view that old people just keep "gettin older" and die; best case being they die in the hope of a resurrection… That's what Jesus himself knew was coming; and, that is what did happen to him. (Luke 23:46; Luke 9:44) My hope is, "in that way" then, better than even the Son of God had! (John 14:12) It has certainly been happening just like that to everyone alive for the 6000 years since creation. But, it is no longer like that! That is my hope... Admittedly, few of the “religious” people of my own personal “history” share my hope. Many of those who once professed they were my “friends” have judged me wicked because of my hope. I do try to join Paul in thinking their judgment of me has no value!~

(1 Corinthians 4:1-5 KJV (1) Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. (2) Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. (3) But with me it is a very small thing [a trivial matter] that I should be judged of you, or [a human tribunal] of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. (4) For I know nothing by myself [not aware of any wrongdoing]; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. (5) Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of [or come from] God.)

~So then, this letter exposes the "counsel of my heart." Whether you share my hope or not, I do hope by sharing these scriptures you can understand why I must express~

[1 Peter 3:15 KJV But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:?]

~that I can't join in your admittedly more commonly accepted view of the things you said “we have" to or "must" accept. If I die, demonstrating my hope unrealized, many people will judge me foolish or even wicked. All of such human judgments mean nothing...~

[1 Corinthians 4:3 Now to me it is a very trivial matter that I should be examined by YOU or by a human tribunal.?]

~In any case, it is my hope to grow young and strong and to continue alive forever, right here on our earthly home! Isaiah well expressed my hope. I here quote from a modern English translation. Please compare the KJV to verify it conveys the exact same thing. Modern English translations are just a little easier for me to get God’s meaning. My hope, then, as expressed by Isaiah [with some added references]:

Isaiah 11:1-13 GNB The royal line of David is like a tree that has been cut down; but just as new branches sprout from a stump, so a new king will arise from among David's descendants.
- 1) Reference: Luke 1:30-32 English Standard Version And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. (31) And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. (32) He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,

[Christ]

1) Reference: Galatians 3:26-29 ESV for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. (27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (29) And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
2) Reference: Galatians 3:6-8 ESV just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"? (7) Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. (8) And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed."
3) Reference: Romans 4:13-5:5 ESV For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. (14) For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. (15) For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. (16) That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring--not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (17) as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"--in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. (18) In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." (19) He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. (20) No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, (21) fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. (22) That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." (23) But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, (24) but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, (25) who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
4) Reference: Romans 5:1-5 ESV Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (2) Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (3) More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, (4) and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, (5) and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

So, Rosi, at what I am convinced is my heavenly Father’s direction, I worship my Lord and King Jesus Christ. I look forward to eternity under Christ's kingship right here on earth, a continuation of the kingdom of his father King David. (Luke 1:30-33) What an absolute wonder to know such things. Praise God! Praise

you people…

So, then, I study these scriptures and the joy of Christ wells up in me in a most wondrous way. It seems nearly too wonderful to comprehend! And yet, I do... And then so, I try and remain convinced it is God’s Spirit that brings such joy. (John 16:24; John 15:11; John 17:13) My hope is that spirit bringing joy is the same spirit protecting me from the grave. The same spirit that will heal my diseases. The same spirit that will return my youthful health and vigor. It is a wondrous hope… If, just for the sake of argument, this hope that has become mine is the hope God has revealed to us in the Bible, how will people be able to take advantage of it if they don't know about this good news. (Rom 10:14-15) Have you heard the good news of Christ's Kingdom? (Mat 24:14) I don't know even one church that is teaching this simple truth!

I have defended this hope many times over by this age in my life. Every time I do, ~~I get better at~~ I learn more and strengthen my faith by defending it. More and more scriptures fit in to my understanding in support my hope! These studies thus make my faith more and more real to me... Inside that hope and faith is “where I live.” Join with me and all those “singing the song of Jesus” Christ:

Go to: JustBibleTruth.com ~Select~ Sing Christ's Song!
Go to: JustBibleTruth.com ~Select~ Where I live?

Please understand, I don't say any of this to force covert you to my way of thinking. Your support of "me" wouldn't really help either one of us. I do love to hear of your support of Jesus Christ, of course. As for your support for me, it would seem inconsistent to allow people supporting me to have any more meaning or influence over my life than those who condemn me. We must each one have our own faith, and then, by our choice of that faith, we make ourselves responsible.~

John 12:47-50 ESV If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. (48) The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. (49) For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment--what to say and what to speak. (50) And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me."
John 15:22 ESV If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.

~We must be approved by God. (1 Cor 4:5) That's why God gave us the Bible: So we can know him and He can know us. He comes to know us as our faith in Christ remakes us as a "new creation" as his friend and his children… (John 3:3; Gal 6:14-16; James 2:21-23) I am most pleased you have "your" faith in Christ, and that compels me to share some of the personal details of "my" faith. I think the Bible says that's how we can help each other.~

Proverbs 27:17 KJV: Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Or; Proverbs 27:17 from the Contemporary English Version: Just as iron sharpens iron, friends sharpen the minds of each other.

~I only mention these things at all because, if we are both sincere, such differences will be ironed out as we mature and grow toward the same “Christian” maturity of faith. (Eph 4:1-6) There is, after all, only one truth. Truth is what Jesus taught. As my old childhood friend Roger shared with me recently: "Religion is man's attempt to reach God. Jesus Christ is God's attempt to reach mankind." Probably the very best and the only safe way to take in God's spirit, is to follow God's command to listen to Jesus. (John 6:63; Mat 17::5) As for all the rest of us, the best of us are just working to figure out how...

Best always,

Joe

As often happens, my intended brief note took on a life of its own. It might wind up as a webpage: “Getting Old!” or something like that.

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