I’m not finding any Biblical provision for an idle existence in old age for God’s people.
Sure, we quit our jobs and collect a pension or Social Security check and retire from our occupations. But where is it written that, by virtue of age or physical limitation, Jesus Christ’s disciple has somehow reached a sufficient enough stature of holiness the Lord has planned for him?
On what basis is he ever entitled to conclude the process of becoming transformed into a “priest of God and Christ?” [see: Rev. 20:6]
Even the Psalmist anticipated an essential purpose to life as an old man:
“…even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation—Your power to all who are to come.” [Psa. 71:18] [my emphasis]
And, after leading His people Israel out of bondage and providing them with life-sustaining miracles, the Lord shared his reasons for their redemption:
“Now then, if you all shall indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you all shall be My own possession among all the peoples. For all the earth is Mine, and you all shall be to Me a royal priesthood and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.” [Exod. 19:5-6] [my emphasis]
[Redemption meant the same thing then as it does now. see: Different fruit, Same Good News.]
Even in spite of this evidence in the texts, some would suggest that Jesus Christ’s New Covenant abolished God’s royal priesthood. But it certainly did not.
It only enhanced it.
This recurrent theme throughout the Bible is revealed again when the apostle John wrote his letter of Revelation to the seven churches in Asia. He conveys the ultimate goal the Lord still had to make priests out of those He has redeemed:
“Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection—over these, the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him for a thousand years. [Rev. 20:6] [my emphasis]
So, in what way could I ever expect to become a priest of God and Jesus Christ?
Although it originally operated that way, God’s royal priesthood wasn’t created to be a caste system. His law, given to the Jews, acted as a tutor to lead them and the world to Christ. [Gal. 3:24] However, the idea of being a priest was always built around a vision of attaining to to a state of ideal sanctification, or of being set apart from the world.
The Lord God has permanently established His High Priest in the Person of Jesus Christ. [see: Heb. Chapters 7-10] But He’s always had a plan to transform Christ’s disciples into priests—that is, to be learners, teachers and ministers in His service.
They’ve been both duly created and continually refined since the beginning of time.
They’re still being set apart, cleansed and purified as I write.
“The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree. 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…” [Psa. 92:12-15a] [my emphasis]
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Last Updated: January 31, 2024 by cjournalme
No Rest for the Righteous
I’m not finding any Biblical provision for an idle existence in old age for God’s people.
Sure, we quit our jobs and collect a pension or Social Security check and retire from our occupations. But where is it written that, by virtue of age or physical limitation, Jesus Christ’s disciple has somehow reached a sufficient enough stature of holiness the Lord has planned for him?
On what basis is he ever entitled to conclude the process of becoming transformed into a “priest of God and Christ?” [see: Rev. 20:6]
Even the Psalmist anticipated an essential purpose to life as an old man:
“…even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation—Your power to all who are to come.” [Psa. 71:18] [my emphasis]
And, after leading His people Israel out of bondage and providing them with life-sustaining miracles, the Lord shared his reasons for their redemption:
“Now then, if you all shall indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you all shall be My own possession among all the peoples. For all the earth is Mine, and you all shall be to Me a royal priesthood and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.” [Exod. 19:5-6] [my emphasis]
[Redemption meant the same thing then as it does now. see: Different fruit, Same Good News.]
Even in spite of this evidence in the texts, some would suggest that Jesus Christ’s New Covenant abolished God’s royal priesthood. But it certainly did not.
It only enhanced it.
This recurrent theme throughout the Bible is revealed again when the apostle John wrote his letter of Revelation to the seven churches in Asia. He conveys the ultimate goal the Lord still had to make priests out of those He has redeemed:
“Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection—over these, the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him for a thousand years. [Rev. 20:6] [my emphasis]
So, in what way could I ever expect to become a priest of God and Jesus Christ?
Although it originally operated that way, God’s royal priesthood wasn’t created to be a caste system. His law, given to the Jews, acted as a tutor to lead them and the world to Christ. [Gal. 3:24] However, the idea of being a priest was always built around a vision of attaining to to a state of ideal sanctification, or of being set apart from the world.
The Lord God has permanently established His High Priest in the Person of Jesus Christ. [see: Heb. Chapters 7-10] But He’s always had a plan to transform Christ’s disciples into priests—that is, to be learners, teachers and ministers in His service.
They’ve been both duly created and continually refined since the beginning of time.
They’re still being set apart, cleansed and purified as I write.
“The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree. 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…” [Psa. 92:12-15a] [my emphasis]
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