The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness. (Proverbs 16:31 NKJV)
Being an old man now, I fall into the category of the silver-haired. I am frankly surprised at this every day. Maybe that lack of retention is one of the merciful functions of advancing age?
The verse above tells me that because I am old, my gray hair is a crown of glory. Imagine that! It’s shocking, really. To think that there is anything about me that God considers glorious is astounding.
It is of course conditional. My head is a crown of glory IF (and only if) it is found in the way of righteousness.
Now we know from other Scripture that any righteousness I possess is in Christ, for in me, nothing good dwells (Romans 7).
Given who I know I am, this makes perfect sense.
In and of myself, I fall far short of the glory of God. But through faith in Jesus, when God looks at me, He sees His glorious Son in me.
I didn’t do that. He did.
I can, and must take responsibility for my sin, but only the Lord gets credit for my righteousness. Without Him, I can do nothing (John 15).
The beauty of all this is that the longer I walk with the Lord, surrendering to His will and goodness, the more glorious I become. Where the world sees a weakening old man with decreasing value, the Lord sees a precious jewel being refined and glorified by being transformed more and more into His image.
Like I said: astounding.
What is true for me is, of course, true for all Christians.
And our part in this refining process is so simple even a doddering old man can participate effectively.
What do we do? We seek Him. We surrender to Him. We submit to His will for us. He will do the rest.
“…thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV)
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