Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests.

~Zephaniah 1:7 ESV

Stanley Jones, a Methodist missionary statesman to India, faced two bouts with what he called nervous breakdowns. In his later life, he predicted that his 70s would be a time of his most significant accomplishment. Yet, his 80s would be a time of most significant influence. Both came to pass. He credited these accomplishments to a change in his perspective. He learned he had to resign as the general manager of the universe. Instead of gazing at others and glancing at Jesus, Jones learned to glance at others and gaze at Jesus. Never again would he have a mental breakdown.

Old age has many physical challenges. Therefore, some well-known Christian leaders have become cynical, sullen, and withdrawn toward the end of their lives. As a natural occurrence, we lose people around us, and we may lose ministry opportunities.

The late pastor, John MacArthur, believed that losing the noise around us was a positive, not a negative. He said that “wisdom only grows in silence” and that “sanctification never goes into retirement.” Additionally, he believed that toward the end of our lives, God gives us more time for prayer and meditation to prepare us for our heavenly home.

Even our physical maladies can provide us with more time to deepen our relationship with Christ. If we have breath, we are still under construction spiritually, and God has a purpose for our lives, to conform us to His image.

One more time around the sun and I will be an octogenarian, but it is still all about perspective. We can view this period as entirely negative, or we can see it as a time when, although our bodies are weakening, our spirits are growing stronger. Perspective is everything. The immaculate perception has everything to do with our spiritual health in the later stages of our lives.

Let’s keep the immaculate perception in our minds and hearts. Then, let’s use this time not to glance at others but to gaze at Jesus.

Father, help me to perceive the days of my life as you do. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2025: The Immaculate Perception: Ken Barnes: All Rights Reserved.