It is easy to mistake sanctification with senescence. Young men commit the majority of crimes and as we age our inclination toward violence decreases. Aging is a continuous process of hormonal changes, which affects our thoughts and passions. Often our improved civil behavior has little to do with a growing relationship with God but has more to do with lack of energy and the growth of common sense.
We could easily jump to the conclusion that it is then easier for God to save older people because of the decreased tendency to do wrong things. However, older people are not more like God. It is just that their sins become internalized. Pride, cynicism and selfishness are still there, but are more craftily disguised as concern for one’s community. Our bigotry becomes a concern to keep up the quality of the neighborhood. Our egotism and conceit that our faith is better than another’s is lauded as dedication and commitment to the ideals and values of our founding fathers. Often conversion comes more difficult to the older people because they believe they already know because they have been around the barn a few times.
How very fortunate we are that salvation is not based upon outward behavior or inner holiness. Salvation is a gift of God’s mercy that covers the sins of our youth and the frightening judgmentalness of our old age. I write this not to maintain there is no growth for the person with a genuine relationship with God that would deny the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. I just don’t want us to confuse it with something else. Please see Romans 6:23.
Written by Roger Bothwell on May 28, 2008
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org