“Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.” — Psalm 71:18
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In the last couple of decades, a college football tradition has developed for some programs like Mississippi State, in which the players and coaches hold up four fingers at the end of the third quarter and entering the fourth. For Mississippi State, the tradition is meant to be a statement to the fans, and the other team, that the Bulldogs own the fourth quarter. In other words, the Bulldogs pride themselves on playing their best football in the final quarter, when it matters most. The fourth quarter is when they shine.
The four-finger gesture is not just a statement for Mississippi State’s opponents to see, however; it’s also a reminder to the Bulldogs themselves to give their all — to not leave anything on the field at the end of the game. It’s a reminder to finish strong.
As Christians, we too should remind ourselves of this. In 2000, pastor John Piper delivered a message about seashells that inspired a generation. Piper told of a couple who retired to spend time traveling the world collecting seashells from various beaches. He called it a tragedy.
Piper was in no way criticizing the idea of retirement or enjoyable hobbies like seashell collecting. Rather, he was pleading with his audience not to elevate temporary things like leisure and comfort above the Biblical command to glorify God by loving Him, loving others, and sharing the Gospel. God didn’t restrict this command only to pastors, professional missionaries, or young people with lots of energy and zeal. He gave His command to us all, even elderly people.
Psalm 71:18 says, “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.” Here, the psalm writer prays to God and asks Him not to let him die until he’s declared God’s “power to the next generation,” and God’s “mighty acts to all who are to come.” Although he was “old and gray,” he didn’t use that as an excuse not to tell others about God. In his old age, he didn’t busy himself with meaningless pursuits so he had no time for eternal matters.
Of course, living for God’s glory will look different as an 88-year-old than as a 28-year-old. God doesn’t expect us to become spiritual superheroes. But He does call us to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1). Let the Good News of the Gospel, the good news of what Jesus did to save His people, inflame your heart with a passion to tell others about Him. Then, never grow cold to that passion. Never grow weary of it. Saturate your mind with the Gospel daily, and rely on God to sustain you throughout all four quarters of your life lived for Him.
You may be reading this while entering the “fourth quarter” of your life, or you may be well into your fourth quarter already. But if there’s still breath in your lungs, there’s still time on the clock. The game’s not over yet, and you can own the fourth quarter by living for God today.
— Kevin Mercer
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