MAY 8
Psalm 92:14, “They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green.”
The principal theme of Psalm 92 is the praise of God for His character and works. The psalmist expresses gratitude for God’s steadfast love in the morning and His faithfulness in the evening, acknowledging that God’s works and wisdom are worthy of praise. Though the wicked may seem to prosper temporarily, the psalmist affirmed that they will ultimately perish, while the righteous will endure, flourishing like tall, sturdy trees—”ever full of sap and green.” This imagery reflects a life rooted in God’s presence and sustained by His faithfulness. Similarly, Jesus’ parable of the vine and the branches underscores that an abiding relationship with God is the key to fruitfulness.
One person who exemplified this enduring faith and fruitfulness was George Whitefield (1714–1770), a dynamic preacher and central figure in the 18th-century evangelical revival. Known for his powerful messages, Whitefield sparked the Evangelical Revival in England and was instrumental in the First Great Awakening in America. Throughout his lifetime, he preached over 18,000 sermons, reaching massive crowds on both continents.
Even in his old age, Whitefield continued to preach. He delivered his last sermon just one day before his death. Despite his failing health, Whitefield prayed before that last sermon: “Lord Jesus, I am weary in Thy work, but not of Thy work. If I have not yet finished my course, let me go and speak for Thee once more in the fields, seal Thy truth, and come home to die.” When friends urged him not to preach because of his weakened condition, Whitefield responded with his trademark conviction: “I would rather wear out than rust out.”
Standing on a barrel in an open field, he delivered a passionate message on the need to be born again. Though his voice was initially strained, witnesses said it grew stronger as he spoke, and his fervor for Christ remained undiminished. That evening, he traveled to Newburyport, Massachusetts, where he died the following morning at 55.
Like the righteous in Psalm 92 who flourish even in old age, George Whitefield exemplified a life of unwavering devotion to God, bearing fruit until the very end, and offering a powerful testimony to the enduring strength that comes from a deep, abiding relationship with Him.
“I’d rather wear out than rust out.” — George Whitefield
Application Questions: How can you cultivate an “abiding relationship with Christ” in your own life, especially as you grow older, so that the Spirit might continually bear fruit in you? In what ways can you embrace the attitude of “wearing out” in God’s service rather than “rusting out,” even when facing challenges or exhaustion?
LookingtoJesus 