First of two partsAGE is the length of time that a person has lived or a thing has existed and is signified by the nominal year, say, an individual is 25 years old.
Accordingly, age is a biological classification that specifies the time frame between birth and death in years.
While age has an objective component, as everyone has been alive for a certain number of years, age also includes substantial subjective and social constructional components.
Age is important because a longer life brings opportunities for older people and their families and for societies as a whole.
Additional years provide the chance to pursue new activities such as further education, a new career, or a long-neglected passion. Older people also contribute in many ways to their families and communities.
Chronological age is the time passed from birth to the given date. It is the age of years, months, days, etc. This is the primary way people define their age. It is also a primary risk factor for chronic diseases, mortality, and any impairments to bodily functions, such as hearing and memory.
“Age doesn’t matter,” as Mark Twain, the father of American literature, says, “is an issue of mind over matter.” If you do not mind, it does not matter.
The quote “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter” by Mark Twain encompasses a profound understanding of the human experience. The quote suggests that one’s perception of age is more significant than the number itself.
As an individual age, his physical body also experiences tear and wear. So, how do true servants of the Almighty God and His Son Lord Jesus Christ face this logical phenomenon?
As the year 2024 is fast approaching its end, all mankind has reached another year of their lives.
Relative to this, an article titled “Physical wasting away, yet spiritually being renewed everyday” written by Brother Dennis Lovendino, INC Minister of the Gospel, and published in the Editorial of the “Pasugo: God’s Message” in its December 2022 issue is featured.
The context of the article is hereto quoted.
“As the year ends and a new one unfolds, people naturally turn a year older. One of the harsh realities of getting old is the gradual decline of bodily functions and stamina. But besides aging, life’s daily troubles also take a toll on people’s physical and mental well-being. And many, after having undergone repetitive routines for a prolonged period, even experience ennui – a mixed feeling of boredom, fatigue, and dissatisfaction.
“We, members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ), are not impervious to aging and life’s afflictions, nor are we strangers to feeling burned out. Yet, even though ‘Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, our spirit inside us is made new every day’ (2 Cor. 4:16 Easy-to-Read Version). As for the troubles, we regard them as but ‘light and temporary’ (God’s Word) if compared to the ‘tremendous and eternal glory’ awaiting us (2 Cor. 4:17 Good News Bible). Fraught with human frailties, we draw strength from our Lord God, as His servant David who avowed, ‘My mind and my body may grow weak, but God is my strength; He is all I ever need’ (Ps. 73:26 GNB).
“Hence, as years are added to our life as members of the Church Of Christ, we strongly resist the propensity for slowing down, or worse, drawing back from our sacred obligations to God. We know full well that if we do not ‘become tired of doing good,’ that is keeping His commands (Rom. 7:12), ‘the time will come when we will reap the harvest’ (Gal. 6:9 GNB), the eternal life (ETRV) to be granted to those who shall triumphantly finish their race (2 Tim. 4:6-8).
“Thus, despite being hounded by crisis after crisis, like the recent pandemic that has been wreaking havoc on people’s lives for nearly three years now, food shortage, skyrocketing prices of basic commodities and services, destructive calamities, armed combats, among others, we continue upholding God’s works with undying enthusiasm. Like runners in a race, as the finish line is well within our sight – though physically exhausted and gasping for breath – we muster all our remaining strength to make the final strides needed to win the crown.
“Firmly believing that our Lord God is ‘not unjust to forget [our] work and labor of love which [we] have shown toward His name’ (Heb. 6:10 New King James Version), we ‘keep [ourselves] busy always in [our] work for the Lord, since [we] know that nothing [we] do in the Lord’s serviced is ever useless (1 Cor. 15:58 GNB).
“This explains why faithful Church members, young and old alike, carry on with their sacred obligations amid daunting obstacles. No mountain is so high, no ocean is too deep – literally and figuratively – to hinder them from fulfilling their God-given tasks. They brave extremely unpleasant weather conditions – typhoon, blizzard, sandstorm, hailstorm, name it – to attend worship service. They do not mind traveling great distances, by whatever means, even by foot, if need be; or trekking mountains or hills; and crossing rivers and seas, even amid raging waters, to fulfill their respective duties to God. There is nothing true members of the Church are not ready to do – even putting their lives on the line – in performing their religious obligations.
“Not even their personal aspirations can get in the way of their devoted service to God. Although also aspiring for better living conditions, many of them choose to turn down job promotions or salary increases, if accepting such an offer would mean more work days and hours, thus preventing them from attending worship service. We also hear about some INC youths being offered scholarships in prestigious universities, but foregoing such a privilege when the school distance and schedule run into conflict with their Church obligations.”
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If you want to know more about the things that you ought to do to be saved come Judgment Day – the Second Advent of Lord Jesus Christ, please call telephone numbers +6329814311/9811111/71978000 or email your queries to pasugo@iglesianicristo.org.ph.
Antonio Papa is currently a trustee of the New Era University in Quezon City and the second head deacon at the Local Congregation of Indang, Ecclesiastical District of Cavite South. He is a retired university professor at the College of Economics, Management and Development Studies, Cavite State University (CvSU) in Indang, Cavite. In 2018, he served as a scientist 1 and consultant at Marinduque State College (MSC) now Marinduque State University (MarSU) in Boac, Marinduque. He is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education degree at the Don Severino Agricultural College (DSAC) now CvSU in 1978, and both Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Extension Education at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), College, Laguna in 1986 and 1991, respectively.
