For the generation over 50, the Lord wants to remind you that your age is your biggest asset, and your journey has increased in such value that all of heaven is now looking for you. Your weariness does not disqualify you from greatness.
On the contrary, because of your faithful witness and consistent walk of faith, the Lord is now calling on you to help deliver a nation.
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am Almighty God. Walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between you and Me and will exceedingly multiply you'” (Gen. 17:1-2).
Father Abraham did not even begin to fulfill his divine commission until he was nearly 100 years old. All that had gone before him had been preparation for the plans and purposes of God in the autumn season of his life. Because of the immense weight of responsibility in birthing and discipling a nation, God needed someone He could trust. He needed someone who had already proven himself to be faithful—regardless of the cost. He needed someone who would obey Him, not because it was personally beneficial, but because it was the only choice worth making. Abraham had passed the test.
Moses didn’t begin his commission until he was 80 years old (Ex. 7:7). He thought his assignment had been years earlier, but he was not prepared. By the time he met God in the wilderness 40 years later, he had totally forgotten his gift of eloquent speech and told God he was too tired to answer the call (Ex. 4:10). As it turned out, those 40 years of caring for sheep wasn’t God’s punishment for Moses’ failure in Egypt. It was God’s divine method of training his heart and molding his character for the true call on his life to set a nation free.
Noah was over 500 years old when he fathered his sons and built the ark (Gen. 5:32). God saw that Noah was a “just man and blameless among his contemporaries” (Gen. 6:9, 7:1). It was not some zealous young champion whom God chose to build the ark and steward an entire makeover of the earth’s population; it was an older man who was time-tested and prepared for the challenge. Not only did Noah prove to have the physical stamina for the work required, he lived another 300 years—long enough to see his legacy endure.
Notice that the call on these three patriarchs was to work with the following generation so God’s plan could succeed. Each of them was commissioned to work with their sons and those who followed them so that the promise of God would be fulfilled. Moses may not have had the grace to speak as he once did, but God provided him Aaron to mentor. Noah never could have built the ark on his own, so he enlisted his sons to help in the building and carry on the vision for generations following. Abraham raised his son, Isaac, to trust God with his life—literally—and it became the defining benchmark for those who walk by faith.
Scripture reveals that these three men had already lived a full life including favor with man and blessing from God. They could have easily gone into retirement and felt satisfied. But God had something much better in mind. Their lifetime of faithfulness had now produced a priceless commodity—absolute confidence in God’s heart and unwavering trust in His plans.
Regardless of the worldly reputation they had gained or any acquisition of goods, it was this heart after God that had been refined as gold through the furnace of affliction (Isa. 48:10). It was their determination to persevere when tested and remain faithful when forgotten that would establish their names in heaven as history makers. This kind of faith is a sacred treasure that gains its value by being put through fire. It is of incalculable worth. Heaven is looking for the faithful Abrahams to pass this on to the next generation.
The world tells us to stay young as long as possible. We often say, “I wish I were young again.” We need to change our perspective. Though there are certainly benefits to having a younger physique with certain freedoms, there is a wholeness of soul, mind and spirit that only comes from a long life in God. It is this matured faith and fine-tuned perspective that is essential in building the faith of future generations.
“Wisdom is with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life” (Job 12:12).
If you wonder why you don’t have the same passion or zeal you once did, there’s a reason. The grace on your life has changed and He’s now asking you to mentor others who can carry the vision to completion. There are sons and daughters ready and willing to pick up the cause and run with it. They just need wisdom to guide the way and fathers and mothers to walk with.
Because of the cultural shifts that need to take place and the generational patterns that must be transformed across the earth, it’s going to take a threefold generational partnership to see it happen. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob establishes His people through intergenerational relationships.
The call of Abraham is to equip, empower and encourage the coming generations of Isaac and Jacob so the entire household can be established. Now is not the time to kick back, but to step up. I believe those of us who are over 50 have actually gotten better over time and the fine wine that has been aging within us is about to be tasted.
My middle name is Joy, and it has been prophesied over me many times that in my “later years” I would have much joy. It struck me recently how Sarah reacted to her call when she was 99 years old. Having given up on her lifelong dream of bearing a child, she was now told that she would birth a son. Her response?
“Therefore Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I am so old and my lord is old also, shall I have pleasure?'” (Gen. 18:12).
I could totally relate! She said she was simply worn out and tired! And yet—her laugh became a trigger point for breakthrough. Not only did she see God’s promise fulfilled, but the son she birthed was called “he laughs” (Gen. 21:3). Isaac was birthed in joy! Not only did he bring his mother great joy, but his life also produced another generation that would fulfill the covenant promise given to Abraham and change the course of history.
I believe the new wine of the Spirit that is coming upon the earth is partially dependent on the generation of Abraham answering this call from heaven. In this autumn season, there is a convergence of generations and grace to be apprehended that can bring great breakthrough. The biological clock is irrelevant to those who have yet to see their promises fulfilled.
If you feel like laughing, it’s just an indication that revival is about to be birthed through you! {eoa}
Wanda Alger is a field correspondent with Intercessors for America. She ministers with her husband in Winchester, Virginia. Follow her blog at wandaalger.me.
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