There is one thing that all men do. It is told in verse 14: "One event happeneth to them all." Aging certainly has its downside. Aches and pains increase and seem to never cease, the mind slips a few cogs, and that which was so simple in younger years is virtually impossible. When we "Senior citizens" (It used to be "Old-folks," but that is considered derogatory now), mention getting old, somewill inevitably say, "Your only as old as you feel." Well I feel old! Do you mind? the common desire of ignorant man is to put aside all thoughts of this reality that is taking us all to that "one event that happeneth to them all."
Yes, an "old man" has more sense than the young, because the realization of that "one event" becomes a reality. Of course, we must qualify that by saying with Solomon, "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness" (Prov. 16:31). There are multitudes of old people who still are counting on another 20 or 30 years. Why? They are not in the way of righteousness, and the insanity of sin has made them fools.
Men just cannot "cope" with this "one event." We read almost every day of the death of some students in school, and the first thing that is done is bring in "counselors" to help the other students "cope" with the death. An athlete kills himself, and his team mates are trying to "deal with it" or "cope" with the reality, not considering that their day is right around the corner. It's real man, deal with it.
There are tombstones in every direction; and underneath are the bones of infants, aged, and all in between. "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength, labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away" (Psa. 90:10).
So, in my latter years I am looking more to "the way of righteousness," for my only desire is that hoary head might be a crown of glory. What is this? Let us see first what it is not.
I. It is not that which men think it is. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Prov. 14:12).
1. The problem with man's thinking is the perversion that clouds the mind because of great ignorance of what is real. The greatest ignorance that men labor under is found in Romans 10:3, "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness..." The fool which is called man has no coception of the immaculate, holy character of the Creator. "I am the Lord, the Holy One" (Ezek. 39:7).
2. When death occures, the inability of man to "cope" with it is caused by his great ignorance of the penalty for transgression of the holiness of God. The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). When death comes, the question is asked, "How could God do that?" The real question is: "How could the Holy One not do that?" Yes, men think as they do, because they are ignorant of God's righteousness.
1. It is inevitable that when death occurs, the one who died had unlimited virtures. Have you noticed what everyone says about them? What is this? He was such a good person, that heaven is a better place now. The thinking behind this is, "He was such a good person, and I am just like him. Because of what I do, I'm going to heaven when I die." Because they are ignorant of God's righteousness, they "go about to establish their own righteousness" (Rom. 10:3).
2. The whole trouble in this "good works" mentality is submission. They "have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God" (Rom. 10:3). Yes, as my age increases I would like to find more submission to the righteousness of God. In order to do that, I must know what it is. If it is not that which men think it is, and not that which men do, then what is it?
1. The 8th. chapter of Proverbs is the personification of wisdom. The eternal Sor of God is speaking to the sons of men. He speaks of His eternal Deity in verse 30, "I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was always his delight, rejoicing always before him."
2. Then he makes an astounding statement in verse 31, "My delights were with the sons of men." What! It delighted Him to be with such as we? Yes! Why? That He might be our wisdom (I Cor.1:30) –"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom..." Oh Lord, as time fades, give me more grace to seek Him who is wisdom. What is the way of righteousness?
1. Man is a sure enough fool if he attempts to enter into God's holy presence without the crimson element of life. The one who has wisdom is blood-bathed. "Without shedding of blood is no remission" (Heb. 9:22). To enter into the holy presence of the Lord, we must be wholly sanctified. This is only by the suffering and blood shedding of the blessed Substitute. "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate" (Heb. 13:12).
2. I own the blood! I confess the blood! As I age, may God by His amazing grace, totally take away any vestige of hope I might have in anything but the "precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot" (I Pet. 1:19). I've heard men say, "well, I just want peace as I grow old." I do too! " And having made peace through the blood of His cross" (Col. 1:20). He made peace for some. Perhaps you are one of them. Trust Him then, for time and eternity, for in Him you find peace and righteousness. Therefore the blood of His cross" (Col. 1:20). He made peace for some. Perhaps you are one of them. Trust Him then, for time and eternity, for in Him then, for time and eternity, for in Him you find peace and righteousness. "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1).
Conclusion: "One event happeneth to them all." "It is appointed unto man once to die." Death is nothing really, but it is "after this, the judgement" that we must put all our thoughts upon (Heb. 9:27). Do you know the way of righteousness?
I'm glad for the aging process. The Lord is teaching me to "cope," to deal with it." I certainly have not arrived as yet, but He has brought me along to some degree.
Perhaps Jeremiah asked the question that must be considered in chapter 12, verse 5. "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?" You best get a boat and name it "cope," or deal with it," and find the "way of righteousness" before that "one event that happeneth to them all." Yes, coping grace in the wisdom and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ will get you over the river.