The Worst Part of Life — Morning Devotions

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Transcript

Do you remember the 2008 movie, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button? It starred Brad Pitt – a very unusual type of film based on the short story of F. Scott Fitzgerald. It’s the story of a man who was born old and ages backwards. Unusual to say the least. But the movie explores the way that age dictates identity and challenges the idea that life would be better if we could erase its hurts.

Characters throughout the movie have philosophical observations that convey a message about the importance of cherishing each day. In one scene, Benjamin sends a letter to his friend. At one age, he’d been in love with her, and he writes, I hope you feel things that you’ve never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you have a life you’re proud of. If you’re not, I hope that you have the strength to start again. I guess it makes for a great Hollywood script, but when you really stop and ponder these words, I think we can learn something.

Benjamin keeps getting younger before dying as a baby. Apparently, Scott Fitzgerald got the idea for his story from Mark Twain, who had said how unfortunate it is that the best part of life is the beginning and the worst part is the end.

Reversing the script

The character in the movie Benjamin Button, he said, life can only be understood backward, but it must be lived forward. That can be a bit confusing, but let me try and unpack this a little this morning. What does your best life look like? That’s gonna be different for every one of us. For some, it’s going to be relaxing on a beach with a cold drink and a good book, and for some it’s enjoying time with family and friends.

And for some it’s being part of a fast-paced work environment where you are constantly challenged. Others are sitting down for that movie or a video game. Whether we find our most energy from being alone or together with our family, work, or hobbies, we all have ideal activities that we would do regularly if possible. Oprah Winfrey had as her motto, live your best life.

That sounds like a good motto, but life has its difficult times, and Mark Twain hints that growing old is the worst part of life. We know that for an older person, the best days may well be past. They have more days behind them than in front. My mind says I can, but my body says I can’t. Most people know about Leonardo da Vinci, but what is the most valuable and praised painting in the world?

If you guessed the Mona Lisa, you were right. This famous portrait by da Vinci was commissioned by a patron to celebrate a birthday. If Leonardo had simply been interested in the money, he could have painted the portrait in 1 month and received his money. But payment was never the object with him. It took Da Vinci 4 years to paint this masterpiece.

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And do you know the painting has up to 30 different layers of paint, so why would he do that? Why would he keep adding more and more paint to his artwork? He did that because he kept working and reworking the image until he was happy with it.

And he loved the painting so much that he never gave it to his patron. He kept it for himself, and that’s what Jesus does with us. He is constantly working in our lives and reworking. Jesus will never be quite done with us because to Him – you and I are the most valuable pieces of art in existence, and He wants us to be the best that He can create.

And ultimately He keeps us for Himself because He loves us so much. Regardless of what stage of life you’re at, God is doing a work within us, a divine work that will go on regardless of age. James chapter 4 verse 14 in the New Testament says, You don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? It is a mist that appears for a little while and then disappears. Our bodies and minds deteriorate over time as we age, and not everyone takes kindly to these changes.

But ageing comes whether you’re ready or not, the golden age. Well, look, it doesn’t have to be that terrible. Many older people are gracious servants in the community or in churches who do what they can and give what they can despite their age. Old people are not a burden on society. King Solomon wrote in the Proverbs in the Old Testament, grey hair is a glorious crown. You get it by living the right way. You can be assured He will not abandon you even in your twilight years.

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the older generation, the people with the grey hairs, the people who feel that sometimes they’re forgotten, left on the scrap heap. Thank you, Lord, for their experience of life and for the example and the legacy that they will leave behind. I pray you will bless them, and this is a prayer I ask in the wonderful name of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

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