談到百米短跑，人們可能會想到目前的世界紀錄保持者尤塞恩．博爾特（Usain Bolt），但也不會忘記綽號「颶風」的茱莉亞．霍金斯（Julia Hawkins）。在2021年路易斯安那州「全國高齡運動會」百米短跑賽事中，茱莉亞領先其他跑者衝過終點線。她耗費的時間雖然比博爾特的9.58秒多一些，多了60秒，但當時她已經105歲了！

一個女人到了這把年紀還能參加短跑，實在值得稱讚。那些不停止奔跑天路、以跟隨基督為目標的基督徒也同樣值得稱讚（希伯來書12章1-2節）。對於年長卻仍忠心的信徒，詩人如此描述：「義人要發旺如棕樹，⋯⋯他們年老的時候仍要結果子，要滿了汁漿而常發青。」（詩篇92篇12-14節）

對於年長且持續跟隨基督的信徒，使徒保羅在寫給提多的書信中，有更進一步的教導。他勸勉老年人「在信心、愛心、忍耐上都要純全無疵」，而老年婦人要「用善道教訓人」（提多書2章2-3節）。

上帝從未要年長者停止奔跑。祂對年長者的要求，或許不是要他們像茱莉亞那樣在田徑場上衝刺，而是要他們為了上帝的榮耀而持續奔跑，因為上帝會賜給他們所需的能力。讓我們一同跑完全程，好好地服事上帝、服事人。

When people think about the 100-meter dash, current world-record holder Usain Bolt might come to mind. But we can’t forget about Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins. In 2021, Julia crossed the finish line before all other runners to win the 100-meter dash in the Louisiana Senior Games. Her time was a bit slower than Bolt’s 9.58 seconds—just over 60 seconds. But she was also 105 years old!

There’s a lot to like about a woman who’s still running sprints at her age. And there’s a lot to like about believers in Jesus who never stop running the race with Him as their goal (Hebrews 12:1-2). The psalmist says this about the faithful in the later stages of life: “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, . . . they will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green” (92:12-14).

Older believers who follow this kind of standard can find further instruction in the apostle Paul’s letter to Titus. Seasoned men are to be “sound in faith, in love and in endurance” (Titus 2:2), and senior women are “to teach what is good” (v. 3).

There’s no call for older believers to stop running the race. Maybe not the way Julia does on the track, but in ways that honor God as He provides the strength they need. Let’s all run the race to serve Him and others well.