Latest when I turned 50 I thought about the fact that the days of my youth are over and that I clearly belong to the so called older generation. Even 50 is called the new 40 I can't deny that my son is by far better in soccer now and that I struggle to keep up in jogging with my athletic daughter. However I am not alone with these thoughts and I found tremendous insights through the story of Zechariah and Elisabeth. Luke 1:8 tells us that they were old and that they were in the ministry. Being a missionary and full time minister it helps me even more to identify with them.. Apparently they were very righteous and godly people. Yet, things didn't work out the way they wanted to. A life in godliness and righteousness obviously doesn't garentee us a smooth ride through life. I guess we all figured that one out already. This old couple lived with a deep struggle that we can hardly comprehend in our days. They had no children. It must have been a constant challenge to stand up against discouragement and shame. Children were a sign of God's blessing and people would conclude that this couple wasn't blessed and for sure not righteous. They had to endure stupid and painful remarks of other people. They prayed and prayed for a child....but Elisabeth wouldn't get pregnant, month after month...year after year! Have you ever experienced that your prayers seem to be blocked off? Especially those desperate prayers....that matter to you most! God seems to silent. People around you receive what you are asking for, but you seem to get nowhere. I am sure that Zachariah and Elisabeth felt that way. They lived with a heavy burden of having no children and they felt the disgrace of their unfulfilled desires and dreams painfully. Yet they kept on serving God. They were not bitter. They didn't understand but they didn't quit. Then one day in the middle of his spiritual ministry, he did his duty and daily routine faithfully (Luke 1:13) the angel of the Lord appered to Zechariah and tells him that his prayers were heard. Obviously Zachariah didn't expect anything anymore to happen., because he doubted. The thought that they could become pregnant as senior citizens was really a impossibility. HE doubted everything the angel had said, but this didn't hinder God to still answer their long forgotten prayers! What a comfort! We know that Zechariah became mute until the day his son was really born, but God's plan came to pass. HE TOOK AWAY THEIR DISGRACE IN HIS APPOINTED TIME (Lk 1:14). God wasn't finished with them. After John was born and Zechariah was able to speak again he started to prophecy (Lk 1:67)! A new chapter in their lives began at a very old age and they made history.
Thomas Erkens
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