November is the time of year that backyard gardeners hate. All their beautiful flowers, babied since spring, are now dying – or at least going dormant for winter. Hostas, one of the most prolific plants, shrinks from a 4-foot wide display down to almost nothing, hiding below ground for the season. But as it shrivels up, it turns a beautiful yellow colour for a few weeks. It goes out with personality. I snapped this picture just before we pulled the leaves out for disposal.

Similarly, as we go through life as Christians and finally age, it’s important to decide we’re going to display the great character of Jesus Christ right to the end. Sure, life throws all kinds of troubles and discouragements at us, but we can still practice great lives that show the world who we live for.

In Philippians 4:4-5 we’re told to “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.”  Great men and women in the Bible practiced these things admirably. Imprisoned for the final time and facing execution, Paul looked forward to his the eternal reward and said, “In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness.” He went on to say that this reward was “not only for me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim.4:8). At advanced age, Peter blessed the brethren and said, may “grace and peace be multiplied to you” (2 Pet.1:3). John, isolated and aging on the island of Patmos wrote the last verse of the New Testament, “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all, Amen” (Rev.22:21). Simeon and Anna, both seniors, had a mission to meet the infant savior, blessing His parents (Luke 2:25-38). All these people lived with patience, good wishes for others, and they rejoiced.

Great people with great personalities. They knew the power and love of the One they served – right to the end!

Make that your goal too.

– Tim Johnson