By Dr Calvin Chong
In my last commentary, I shared three significant points found in Luke’s description of Zechariah, Elizabeth, Simeon, and Anna. Here are some ways we can apply these lessons to our senior life.
(1) Live to enjoy the presence of God.
A common thread running through Luke’s account of the four aged seniors is their closeness to God. Desiring God above all else (Psalm 73:25–26), thirsting for Him (Psalm 42:1–2), and seeking Him (Psalm 34:10) are central priorities highlighted in Scripture. While Scripture presents many benefits of being in the presence of God, such as security (Psalm 91:1–2), peace (Isaiah 26:3), renewed strength (Isaiah 40:31), direction (Proverbs 3:5–6), and confidence beyond death (Psalm 16:9–10), the primary goal is to enjoy the presence of God. In the Psalms, we hear declarations that in God’s presence is “fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). Likewise, God is addressed as “my exceeding joy”(Psalm 43:4).
A natural outworking of communing with God and enjoying His presence is the transformation of character. God’s character simply rubs off on those who spend time in His presence. In his book You Are What You Love, the Christian philosopher James K. Smith points out that human beings are creatures of desire and that our ultimate desires shape our thoughts, behaviour, and life pursuits. [1]
This reality should prompt us to reflect: What do we truly love? Are our desires drawing us closer to God, or are they shaping us in ways that distance us from Him? How might our daily habits, choices, and affections reveal what we treasure most?
What follows therefore is that the more we live for the joy of being with God, the more our loves, choices, and character reflect His glory. Enjoying the presence of God transforms our affections, what we treasure most, and how we conduct our lives daily.
(2) Cultivate righteous behaviour and instincts.
One of the anchor tenets of the Christian faith is that God counts believers as righteous on the basis of Christ’s completed work on the cross rather than their own moral achievement (Romans 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9). Beyond that, however, righteousness is to be intentionally cultivated in believers through lives of obedience, formation, and faithful perseverance (1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; Hebrews 5:14; 1 John 3:7).
While these concepts may be familiar to many in the church, they remain surprisingly foreign to others—even seniors with a lifelong record of church attendance. Given humanity’s deep-seated inclination toward self-interest, self-absorption, and self-reliance, we are reminded that the pursuit of righteousness does not come naturally or by virtue of age. Left to ourselves, we drift toward spiritual inertia, become content with outward conformity, and neglect the ongoing work of sanctification required of believers.
Yet apathy and inattention to spiritual health are not an option in view of the future realities that await us. Christian Scriptures teach about a day of reckoning, the delights of being in God’s presence eternally, and the tragic finality of eternal exclusion. Good preparation for leaving this life should thus include good preparation to live well in the next.
It is never too late to begin the journey of repentance and following Jesus. Those who have begun this journey early in life will be filled with “the harvest of righteousness” (Philippians 1:9–11; James 3:18; Hebrews 12:11) and, like Simeon, ready to “depart in peace” (Luke 2:29) in anticipation of union with their Master in Heaven. Those who, in their senior years, are just beginning the journey will discover that God honours genuine repentance at every stage of life (Luke 23:42–43). This beginning, however, should not merely be an empty profession but marked by visible and tangible evidence of sincerity.
(3) Live for something greater than yourself.
One of the sad realities about growing old is that we sometimes lose our purpose for living. Alternatively, our purpose for living shrinks until it revolves only around maintaining our own pleasure, comfort, convenience, and security. God, however, calls all of us to something far larger: to live for His kingdom, for others, and for the glory of Christ.
Challenging seniors to live out a renewed sense of purpose can sometimes be misconstrued as a summons to return to the driver’s seat or an invitation to relive one’s golden days on the battlefront as captains and champions. We cite, as examples, how neighbouring and international political leaders have, in recent years, reprised their roles and reinvented themselves in public life.
If we follow the emphasis in Luke 1–2, however, we note that Zechariah and Elizabeth’s calling was profoundly ordinary: to care for John in his infancy, to nurture him, and to prepare him for the role God had appointed for him. A close reading of Luke’s narrative further reveals that Zechariah, Elizabeth, Simeon, and Anna functioned as a first-generation supporting cast, alongside a second-generation supporting cast of Mary and Joseph, and a third-generation supporting cast member, John the Baptist. Together, this three-generational supporting cast is featured for their roles in setting the stage for the real hero of the story–Jesus Christ.
Luke’s presentation of this three-generational supporting cast raises two important reflective questions for those seeking to live for God’s kingdom, for others, and for the glory of Christ: Do we know our place in this story? Do we know our role within it?
Far from the pursuit of visibility or prominence, Luke’s narrative suggests that a larger purpose is often expressed in quieter and less conspicuous ways—through sustained prayer and worship, through the practice of hospitality that opens homes to others, or through patient support for children and youth during their turbulent growing-up years. For some, this calling is lived out in something as simple as greater kindness and appreciation toward a home helper or caregiver.
Whatever specific form it takes, seniors are invited to live for something greater than themselves—a life marked by a spirit of servanthood and self-giving. Such a life seeks neither recognition nor control, but aims instead to glorify God and be a blessing to those around them.
[1] James K. A. Smith, You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit (Grand Rapids. MI: Brazos Press, 2016).
About the Author
Dr Calvin Chong is Professor of Practical Theology at Singapore Bible College. A key part of his work at SBC focuses on how the College can serve churches and Christian organisations better in the face of a rapidly ageing population. He also provides active leadership for community music initiatives for seniors at the Methodist School of Music. Dr Calvin worships at the Covenant Community Methodist Church with his wife.