In our society we view aging as a bad thing. We allow airbrushed photos on magazines to make us feel ugly and old. The crazy twist to all of this is that we are missing the beauty of aging. In Romans 6, Paul talks about sanctification. The process of becoming holy. In this process Paul says we die to self and shed our sinful bodies. This aging process we experience is a blessing. It is evidence that we are shedding this sinful flesh just as the snake sheds skin. It is in this shedding of sinful flesh that we gain righteousness and eventually a new and holy body in an eternal home of peace with our Lord. Embrace the wrinkles and saggy skin and shout praises! Who we are comes from our hearts and is not obvious in our mirrors. Refuse to allow your mirror to dictate your self-esteem and place a lock of gray hair in your baby book next to the lock from your first haircut. Shed that sinful flesh, shed ideas of low self-esteem and sanctify us Lord. Brian Doerksen sings it best in Refiner’s Fire.

Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold
Refiner’s fire
My heart’s one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin
Deep within