Many readers may remember the late Billy Graham’s long-running question-and-answer column in Decision magazine, where he addressed deep questions of faith in a fallen world. One such question stood out: “What’s so golden about the golden years? I don’t see anything ‘golden’ about walkers, wheelchairs, and nursing homes.”
Dr. Graham responded with his characteristic wisdom and grace. He explained that the term “golden years” was actually coined in 1959 as part of an advertising campaign for one of America’s first retirement communities. The idea quickly caught on, promoting retirement as a time of leisure, pleasure, and ease.
But the Bible never glosses over the challenges of aging—nor did Billy Graham. He often reminded readers that while aging brings undeniable hardships, it does not mean our lives are without purpose. In fact, he believed the opposite.
At the time of his passing in 2018, Dr. Graham had spent nearly five years using a walker and wheelchair and receiving regular nursing care. In a moment of touching irony, it was a nursing student who discovered that he had gone home to be with the Lord.
When asked about his declining health, Graham simply reiterated his own words:
“The Bible doesn’t hide the negative side of getting older—nor should we.”
He faced the trials of aging with honesty and hope. Despite physical decline, he expressed gratitude for each day, knowing that God had a purpose for every moment. He believed that some of his most spiritually fruitful years came after his last public crusade—years filled with deeper prayer, meditation on Scripture, and encouraging others in their walk with Christ.
Scripture offers numerous examples of faithful men and women who refused to view old age as a time of passivity or indulgence. One such example is Barzillai, a lesser-known yet vital figure in the life of King David. In his old age, Barzillai provided crucial support and hospitality to the king during a time of crisis (2 Samuel 19:32–37). His generosity and courage played a part in preserving the Davidic line, through which the eternal reign of Jesus Christ was fulfilled.
The Holy Spirit, in divine wisdom, included the biblical narratives of Barzillai—and Psalm 71—to speak directly to aging faithfully. Psalm 71, which has served as the biblical foundation of Baptist Homes since 1913, reminds us that old age is not a season of retreat from God’s work, but a calling to continued faith, service, and hope.
So, what’s truly golden about the golden years? Not ease or luxury, but the enduring presence and purpose of God in every stage of life.
