When Paul Molitor of the Minnesota Twins baseball team got his 3,000th hit as a major leaguer, he won a small victory for everyone over 40 years old. He showed that he still had great skills at an age when most players had long ago retired.

No matter how hard we try, though, none of us can hold back the natural processes of aging. We can exercise, eat right, put on moisturizing lotions, but we still get older. That undeniable truth is found in 2 Corinthians 4:16, which states, "Our outward man is perishing."

Enough of the bad news. Let's get to the good news. At the same time our bodies rush relentlessly toward destruction, we can enjoy a youthful vitality in our walk with God. Through the constant renewal of our spirit (v.16), we row more and more prepared to be with God. Spiritual age, then, does not have the same effect as physical age. Instead of slowing down as we walk longer with God, we should be enjoying a more sprightly step. The longer we fellowship with Him, the better off we should be.

Yes, we should be growing spiritually. The afflictions we bear are helping us store up heavenly glory, not weighing us down. It's true--if you're walking with Christ, you're not just getting older, you're getting better. --JDB

AS WE GROW MORE CHRISTLIKE WE GROW MORE BEAUTIFUL.