Growing Old Without Growing Cold

“Though outwardly we are wasting away…”

For many of our seniors, this is not just a verse but daily reality. The body that once carried toddlers and groceries, stood through long shifts, and served quietly in church now aches more easily. Simple tasks need more time. Steps are slower. Medical appointments fill the calendar. And with all this, some quiet questions creep in:

“Am I still useful?”

“Am I now a burden?”

“Has God sidelined me?”

The Bible’s answer is kind and clear: in Christ, you are not being discarded; you are being prepared for glory.

Paul writes, “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day… For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Cor 4:16–17). Scripture does not pretend that ageing is easy. It does not call pain “small” or dependence “pleasant”. But it insists that even in this stage, God is at work. Growing old in Christ is not the slow exit of someone no longer needed. It is the final stretch of faith before seeing the Lord face to face.

Psalm 92 says of the righteous, “They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright” (Ps 92:14–15). Fruitfulness in old age may not look like running camps, chairing committees, or staying back for late meetings. It may look like praying regularly for the church family (dear Bro David Leong comes to my mind). A short WhatsApp to encourage someone younger. A quiet word that points a worried parent back to trust. A steady example of clinging to Christ through hospital stays and sleepless nights. These are not “small things”. In God’s eyes, this is real fruit.

The reminder to “honour an old face” is not just Asian culture or good manners; it is obedience. God commands His people to stand before the grey head and honour the old face as part of fearing Him (Lev 19:32). In a world that prizes youth, speed and fresh ideas, the church must not copy the habit of overlooking those who move slower or speak softer. Our older brothers and sisters carry years of walking with God — stories of His help, His discipline, His faithfulness. To honour them is to say, “We see what God has done in your life, and we thank Him for you.”

At our recent Communication Day, we highlighted three external ministries that can support and encourage seniors. These are not ways of sending our seniors “elsewhere” so that Hermon can move on. They are extensions of care — extra spaces for fellowship, learning and friendship. Our desire is that whatever strength, encouragement and input our seniors receive there will flow back into Hermon, to bless the wider body.

To our seniors: we want you to hear this clearly. You are an integral part of Mt Hermon. You are not on the fringe of our life together. We need your prayers for our leaders, our young families, our youths and our children. We need your perspective when we are anxious over grades, careers, or growth. We need your steady faith to remind us that God has been faithful through far more than what we see today.

To the rest of us in Hermon: let us practise this honour in simple, concrete ways. Slow down on Sundays to greet an older member by name. Offer an arm, a seat, or a lift without making them feel like a project. Invite them into your CG or your family meal. Ask, “How can I pray for you?” — and then follow up. Parents, bring your children along when you visit an elderly brother or sister. Let the next generation see that caring for seniors is normal Christian life.

As we listen to 1 Corinthians 15 preached, and hear again of the sure hope of resurrection, let us remember that many among us are already walking that final lap. Their bodies remind us that this life is passing; their faith reminds us that Christ is worth trusting to the very end.

In a church shaped by the risen Christ, no season of life is wasted. May Hermon be a place where our seniors are helped to grow old without growing cold, and where their quiet, faithful hope in Jesus warms and strengthens every generation that walks beside them. - Elder Sim Chow Meng