Aging Gracefully

Cruciform Quick

by Tim Challies

How does the Bible instruct us as we grow older? Age gracefully, age wisely, age resolutely to the glory of God. --- There are few longings in my heart deeper than That God would let me live a godly, purposeful, dignified old age. I mean to encourage us both to age gracefully, to age wisely, to age resolutely to God’s glory. We are all aging. We are passing through time until we reach the end of our time. We soon learn that greater age brings greater sorrow but also greater joy, especially to those who are in Christ. To age gracefully we must age in Christ and for Christ. What does it look like to age gracefully? What do we need to be doing now to ensure we finish this race strong? These are questions for all Christians, young and old. Thankfully the Bible speaks clearly about how to age and how to age well. Join me in exploring what the Bible has to say about age and aging and learn how we can all hear those beautiful words, “well done, good and faithful servant.” –Tim Challies

Genres: Christian Living

48 pages, Paperback

Published June 25, 2018

About the author

Tim Challies is a leading evangelical blogger. A self-employed web designer, Tim lives in the outskirts of Toronto, Ontario with his wife and children.

Reviews

[Bambi Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this short little book. So much encouragement to persevere, many warnings about the specific temptations related to aging.

[Susan Johnson]

Excellent book. Very encouraging.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

We adopted our son, Linus, six months ago. As I settle into fatherhood, I am starting to feel that my younger years are slipping away. I see my son and I see the man I still need to become. In Aging Gracefully, I found a reliable resource to return to as I grow together with my son.

Cruciform Quick

This book is a part of the Cruciform Quick series, an imprint of Cruciform Press. While Cruciform Press is known for producing books of about 100 pages, the Cruciform Quick series aims to produce booklets in the range of 40-60 pages each.

Authored by renowned Christian blogger Tim Challies, this book has the same serious temperament and immediate relevance found in his online articles. He uses the Bible to make his points while also bringing in examples from his own life.

Three Analogies

The book opens with the word pictures of a prison or a palace to describe the world we build for ourselves as we age. Biblical analogies of a race and fruitful tree are also employed. Aging may be seen as a somber event, but Challies makes it a point to celebrate as we get closer to Christ.

Throughout the book, Challies highlights four areas that change with greater age. First, greater age brings greater sorrow. Second, greater age brings greater joy. Third, greater age brings greater responsibility. And fourth, greater age brings life-shaping decisions. Each area is well-written and thoroughly considered.

Greater Age

This book is saturated with Scripture and wisdom. I would encourage young people to read this book as early as possible. It is never too early to begin preparing for a life of faithfulness. And for those who are older but looking to change, there is hope in these pages and practical advice to help.

I was provided a complimentary copy of Aging Gracefully in exchange for an honest review.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, fast read that helped to motivate me in finishing the race God has set before me. There were so many great points. I’ll point out five and then share a couple of quotes.

1) Choose zeal over apathy.
2) Choose discipline over complacency.
3) Choose learning over stagnation.
4) Choose involvement over isolation.
5) Choose hope over despair.

“Right now you are running your race. Only God knows whether the finish line is nearby or far off in the distance. But whether it is near or far, you bear the responsibility of running well, of running in such a way that you get the victory.”

“We live best when we keep one eye on eternity, when we keep in mind that these days will come to an end.”

Good book! (Booklet)

[Jason Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Cruciform Quick books are solid quick-hitters that go hard on a single idea. Aging Gracefully talks about the Christian life and uses the metaphor of building a house - every day all the things we do go into the "house" we are building that is our witness to others and which also affects our every day lives. He talks about the sorrows that come with age, as well as joys and responsibilities. The race that we run and the fruit of our labors and witness.

All very good things to keep in mind as we live our lives as professing Christians.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good exhortation to remember and take to heart as we age.