{"id":45539,"date":"2021-02-22T21:37:25","date_gmt":"2021-02-22T18:37:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=45539"},"modified":"2025-05-12T02:43:50","modified_gmt":"2025-05-11T23:43:50","slug":"we-will-draw-near-to-god-by-the-number-of-our-spiritual-grey-hairs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2021\/02\/22\/we-will-draw-near-to-god-by-the-number-of-our-spiritual-grey-hairs\/","title":{"rendered":"WE WILL DRAW NEAR TO GOD BY THE NUMBER OF OUR SPIRITUAL GREY HAIRS"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Shalom!<\/span><\/strong>
Welcome <\/span>to <\/span>this <\/span>reflection <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>words <\/span>of <\/span>life. <\/span>The <\/span>Bible <\/span>teaches <\/span>us <\/span>an <\/span>important <\/span>principle <\/span>about <\/span>spiritual <\/span>maturity <\/span>using <\/span>a <\/span>symbol <\/span>we <\/span>often <\/span>overlook: <\/span>grey <\/span>hair.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. <\/span>Grey <\/span>Hair <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>Symbol <\/span>of <\/span>Honor <\/span>and <\/span>Righteousness<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Proverbs <\/span>16:<\/span>31 (<\/span>ESV)<\/span><\/strong> says:<\/span>
“<\/span>Gray <\/span>hair <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>crown <\/span>of <\/span>glory; <\/span>it <\/span>is <\/span>gained <\/span>in <\/span>a <\/span>righteous <\/span>life.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

In <\/span>the <\/span>physical <\/span>realm, <\/span>grey <\/span>hair <\/span>is <\/span>often <\/span>associated <\/span>with <\/span>age, <\/span>wisdom, <\/span>and <\/span>honor. <\/span>In <\/span>Scripture, <\/span>it <\/span>becomes <\/span>a <\/span>spiritual <\/span>metaphor <\/span>for <\/span>maturity <\/span>and <\/span>glory <\/span>attained <\/span>through <\/span>a <\/span>life <\/span>lived <\/span>in <\/span>righteousness. <\/span>Just <\/span>as <\/span>one <\/span>does <\/span>not <\/span>instantly <\/span>grow <\/span>grey <\/span>hair <\/span>but <\/span>accumulates <\/span>it <\/span>over <\/span>time, <\/span>spiritual <\/span>growth <\/span>is <\/span>also <\/span>a <\/span>process\u2014<\/span>not <\/span>a <\/span>one-<\/span>time <\/span>confession.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, <\/span>many <\/span>people <\/span>treat <\/span>salvation <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>one-<\/span>time <\/span>event: <\/span>they <\/span>confess <\/span>Christ, <\/span>get <\/span>baptized, <\/span>and <\/span>then <\/span>simply <\/span>wait <\/span>to <\/span>go <\/span>to <\/span>heaven. <\/span>They <\/span>postpone <\/span>growth, <\/span>thinking, \u201c<\/span>I\u2019ll <\/span>serve <\/span>God <\/span>when <\/span>I\u2019m <\/span>older,\u201d <\/span>or \u201c<\/span>once <\/span>I\u2019ve <\/span>achieved <\/span>my <\/span>life <\/span>goals.\u201d <\/span>But <\/span>such <\/span>attitudes <\/span>rob <\/span>us <\/span>of <\/span>rich <\/span>opportunities <\/span>to <\/span>grow <\/span>in <\/span>grace <\/span>and <\/span>in <\/span>intimacy <\/span>with <\/span>God.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. <\/span>Spiritual <\/span>Growth <\/span>Mirrors <\/span>Physical <\/span>Growth<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Physical <\/span>life <\/span>unfolds <\/span>in <\/span>stages\u2014<\/span>infancy, <\/span>youth, <\/span>adulthood, <\/span>and <\/span>old <\/span>age. <\/span>So <\/span>it <\/span>is <\/span>with <\/span>the <\/span>spiritual <\/span>life. <\/span>We <\/span>begin <\/span>as <\/span>spiritual <\/span>infants (<\/span>1 <\/span>Peter <\/span>2:<\/span>2), <\/span>grow <\/span>into <\/span>maturity (<\/span>Ephesians <\/span>4:<\/span>13\u2013<\/span>15), <\/span>and <\/span>are <\/span>expected <\/span>to <\/span>press <\/span>on <\/span>toward <\/span>full <\/span>spiritual <\/span>adulthood.<\/span><\/p>\n

1 <\/span>Corinthians <\/span>13:<\/span>11 (<\/span>ESV)<\/span><\/strong> says:<\/span>
“<\/span>When <\/span>I <\/span>was <\/span>a <\/span>child, <\/span>I <\/span>spoke <\/span>like <\/span>a <\/span>child, <\/span>I <\/span>thought <\/span>like <\/span>a <\/span>child, <\/span>I <\/span>reasoned <\/span>like <\/span>a <\/span>child. <\/span>When <\/span>I <\/span>became <\/span>a <\/span>man, <\/span>I <\/span>gave <\/span>up <\/span>childish <\/span>ways.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Just <\/span>as <\/span>we <\/span>would <\/span>be <\/span>concerned <\/span>if <\/span>an <\/span>adult <\/span>acted <\/span>like <\/span>a <\/span>child, <\/span>God <\/span>is <\/span>concerned <\/span>when <\/span>we <\/span>remain <\/span>spiritually <\/span>immature <\/span>year <\/span>after <\/span>year. <\/span>Growth <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>optional\u2014<\/span>it <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>evidence <\/span>of <\/span>a <\/span>living, <\/span>vibrant <\/span>relationship <\/span>with <\/span>Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. <\/span>God <\/span>Honors <\/span>the <\/span>Spiritually <\/span>Mature<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

In <\/span>the <\/span>Old <\/span>Testament, <\/span>God <\/span>commands <\/span>honor <\/span>toward <\/span>the <\/span>elderly <\/span>not <\/span>just <\/span>for <\/span>their <\/span>age, <\/span>but <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>wisdom <\/span>and <\/span>dignity <\/span>accumulated <\/span>over <\/span>time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Leviticus <\/span>19:<\/span>32 (<\/span>ESV):<\/span><\/strong>
“<\/span>You <\/span>shall <\/span>stand <\/span>up <\/span>before <\/span>the <\/span>gray <\/span>head <\/span>and <\/span>honor <\/span>the <\/span>face <\/span>of <\/span>an <\/span>old <\/span>man, <\/span>and <\/span>you <\/span>shall <\/span>fear <\/span>your <\/span>God: <\/span>I <\/span>am <\/span>the <\/span>Lord.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

This <\/span>principle <\/span>extends <\/span>into <\/span>the <\/span>spiritual <\/span>realm. <\/span>Spiritual <\/span>elders\u2014<\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>have <\/span>walked <\/span>faithfully <\/span>with <\/span>God <\/span>for <\/span>years\u2014<\/span>are <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>honored. <\/span>Their <\/span>spiritual \u201c<\/span>grey <\/span>hairs\u201d <\/span>are <\/span>not <\/span>literal <\/span>but <\/span>are <\/span>seen <\/span>in <\/span>their <\/span>faithfulness, <\/span>perseverance, <\/span>humility, <\/span>and <\/span>fruitfulness.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. <\/span>The <\/span>24 <\/span>Elders <\/span>in <\/span>Heaven: <\/span>A <\/span>Picture <\/span>of <\/span>Spiritual <\/span>Maturity<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

In <\/span>Revelation, <\/span>we\u2019re <\/span>introduced <\/span>to <\/span>twenty-<\/span>four <\/span>elders <\/span>who <\/span>sit <\/span>around <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>throne. <\/span>These <\/span>are <\/span>heavenly <\/span>beings <\/span>who <\/span>represent <\/span>maturity, <\/span>honor, <\/span>and <\/span>closeness <\/span>to <\/span>God.<\/span><\/p>\n

Revelation <\/span>4:<\/span>4 (<\/span>ESV):<\/span><\/strong>
“<\/span>Around <\/span>the <\/span>throne <\/span>were <\/span>twenty-<\/span>four <\/span>thrones, <\/span>and <\/span>seated <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>thrones <\/span>were <\/span>twenty-<\/span>four <\/span>elders, <\/span>clothed <\/span>in <\/span>white <\/span>garments, <\/span>with <\/span>golden <\/span>crowns <\/span>on <\/span>their <\/span>heads.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Their <\/span>appearance <\/span>as <\/span>elders <\/span>is <\/span>significant. <\/span>Why <\/span>not <\/span>young <\/span>people <\/span>or <\/span>children? <\/span>Because <\/span>these <\/span>elders <\/span>symbolize <\/span>deep <\/span>spiritual <\/span>maturity\u2014<\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>have <\/span>lived <\/span>lives <\/span>of <\/span>worship, <\/span>endurance, <\/span>and <\/span>complete <\/span>devotion <\/span>to <\/span>God.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even <\/span>Christ <\/span>is <\/span>described <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>language <\/span>of <\/span>age <\/span>and <\/span>wisdom <\/span>in <\/span>His <\/span>glorified <\/span>state:<\/span><\/p>\n

Revelation <\/span>1:<\/span>14 (<\/span>ESV):<\/span><\/strong>
“<\/span>The <\/span>hairs <\/span>of <\/span>his <\/span>head <\/span>were <\/span>white, <\/span>like <\/span>white <\/span>wool, <\/span>like <\/span>snow. <\/span>His <\/span>eyes <\/span>were <\/span>like <\/span>a <\/span>flame <\/span>of <\/span>fire.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The <\/span>whiteness <\/span>of <\/span>His <\/span>hair <\/span>reveals <\/span>His <\/span>eternal <\/span>wisdom <\/span>and <\/span>divine <\/span>authority. <\/span>Jesus, <\/span>the <\/span>Ancient <\/span>of <\/span>Days, <\/span>models <\/span>the <\/span>kind <\/span>of <\/span>spiritual <\/span>maturity <\/span>we <\/span>are <\/span>called <\/span>to <\/span>pursue.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. <\/span>Why <\/span>Spiritual <\/span>Grey <\/span>Hairs <\/span>Matter<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The <\/span>sobering <\/span>reality <\/span>is <\/span>that <\/span>not <\/span>all <\/span>believers <\/span>mature <\/span>spiritually. <\/span>Some <\/span>remain <\/span>spiritual <\/span>infants <\/span>for <\/span>decades. <\/span>They <\/span>attend <\/span>services, <\/span>hear <\/span>sermons, <\/span>but <\/span>never <\/span>grow <\/span>in <\/span>obedience, <\/span>character, <\/span>or <\/span>service. <\/span>When <\/span>asked <\/span>what <\/span>they\u2019ve <\/span>done <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>Kingdom, <\/span>they <\/span>have <\/span>nothing <\/span>to <\/span>show\u2014<\/span>not <\/span>because <\/span>they <\/span>couldn\u2019t, <\/span>but <\/span>because <\/span>they <\/span>wouldn\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n

Salvation <\/span>is <\/span>more <\/span>than <\/span>a <\/span>status\u2014<\/span>it\u2019s <\/span>a <\/span>journey. <\/span>Every <\/span>day, <\/span>our <\/span>actions, <\/span>prayers, <\/span>sacrifices, <\/span>and <\/span>obedience <\/span>are <\/span>shaping <\/span>our <\/span>eternal <\/span>inheritance.<\/span><\/p>\n

2 <\/span>Peter <\/span>1:<\/span>10\u2013<\/span>11 (<\/span>ESV):<\/span><\/strong>
“<\/span>Therefore, <\/span>brothers, <\/span>be <\/span>all <\/span>the <\/span>more <\/span>diligent <\/span>to <\/span>confirm <\/span>your <\/span>calling <\/span>and <\/span>election, <\/span>for <\/span>if <\/span>you <\/span>practice <\/span>these <\/span>qualities <\/span>you <\/span>will <\/span>never <\/span>fall. <\/span>For <\/span>in <\/span>this <\/span>way <\/span>there <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>richly <\/span>provided <\/span>for <\/span>you <\/span>an <\/span>entrance <\/span>into <\/span>the <\/span>eternal <\/span>kingdom <\/span>of <\/span>our <\/span>Lord <\/span>and <\/span>Savior <\/span>Jesus <\/span>Christ.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Not <\/span>everyone <\/span>will <\/span>have <\/span>the <\/span>same <\/span>experience <\/span>in <\/span>eternity. <\/span>While <\/span>all <\/span>the <\/span>redeemed <\/span>are <\/span>saved <\/span>by <\/span>grace, <\/span>rewards <\/span>and <\/span>responsibilities <\/span>in <\/span>heaven <\/span>differ <\/span>based <\/span>on <\/span>our <\/span>faithfulness (<\/span>see <\/span>1 <\/span>Corinthians <\/span>3:<\/span>12\u2013<\/span>15).<\/span><\/p>\n

6. <\/span>Let <\/span>Us <\/span>Be <\/span>Recognized <\/span>in <\/span>Heaven <\/span>by <\/span>Our <\/span>Spiritual <\/span>Grey <\/span>Hairs<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Let <\/span>this <\/span>be <\/span>your <\/span>resolve: <\/span>when <\/span>you <\/span>enter <\/span>eternity, <\/span>may <\/span>you <\/span>be <\/span>recognized <\/span>not <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>spiritual <\/span>infant, <\/span>but <\/span>as <\/span>one <\/span>crowned <\/span>with <\/span>spiritual <\/span>grey <\/span>hairs\u2014<\/span>one <\/span>who <\/span>walked <\/span>with <\/span>God, <\/span>served <\/span>Him <\/span>faithfully, <\/span>grew <\/span>in <\/span>love, <\/span>truth, <\/span>and <\/span>holiness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do <\/span>not <\/span>waste <\/span>your <\/span>earthly <\/span>life <\/span>pursuing <\/span>only <\/span>what <\/span>is <\/span>temporary. <\/span>Invest <\/span>in <\/span>your <\/span>spiritual <\/span>walk. <\/span>Serve <\/span>Christ <\/span>now. <\/span>Grow <\/span>in <\/span>grace. <\/span>Bear <\/span>fruit. <\/span>Because <\/span>heaven <\/span>will <\/span>recognize <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>lived <\/span>well\u2014<\/span>not <\/span>just <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>believed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Philippians <\/span>3:<\/span>12\u2013<\/span>14 (<\/span>ESV):<\/span><\/strong>
“<\/span>Not <\/span>that <\/span>I <\/span>have <\/span>already <\/span>obtained <\/span>this <\/span>or <\/span>am <\/span>already <\/span>perfect, <\/span>but <\/span>I <\/span>press <\/span>on <\/span>to <\/span>make <\/span>it <\/span>my <\/span>own, <\/span>because <\/span>Christ <\/span>Jesus <\/span>has <\/span>made <\/span>me <\/span>his <\/span>own\u2026 <\/span>I <\/span>press <\/span>on <\/span>toward <\/span>the <\/span>goal <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>prize <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>upward <\/span>call <\/span>of <\/span>God <\/span>in <\/span>Christ <\/span>Jesus.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Let <\/span>us <\/span>desire, <\/span>from <\/span>this <\/span>moment <\/span>on, <\/span>to <\/span>draw <\/span>closer <\/span>to <\/span>God <\/span>daily\u2014<\/span>so <\/span>that <\/span>when <\/span>we <\/span>stand <\/span>before <\/span>Him, <\/span>the <\/span>weight <\/span>of <\/span>our <\/span>walk <\/span>with <\/span>Him <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>evident\u2014<\/span>not <\/span>by <\/span>physical <\/span>appearance, <\/span>but <\/span>by <\/span>the <\/span>glory <\/span>of <\/span>our <\/span>spiritual <\/span>maturity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maranatha \u2013 <\/span>the <\/span>Lord <\/span>is <\/span>coming.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n