What would we do with 15 years if God added them to our lives? Would we live them for ourselves or would we live those extra years for God? Hezekiah's son Manasseh was born during these extra 15 years, yet grew up to be one of Judah's most wicked kings. This suggests that Hezekiah failed to invest spiritually in his son during his extended years.

What do you want to do about it? God used ALL the characters we've looked at in their later years. Some did not finish well. Let's learn from them.

We meet Paul first in Acts 7 as Stephen was being stoned to death. He was a persecutor of the early church. After his dramatic conversion on the Damascus Road, Paul spent 3 years learning from Christ in the Arabian desert and then 14 years in the church at Antioch before launching his missionary journeys.

At age 80, Moses was entrusted with leading Israel out of Egypt. Despite his failures, including striking the rock at Meribah (Numbers 20), Moses pressed on to fulfill his purpose. One of his final tasks was completing Joshua's training and commissioning him to lead Israel into the promised land.

Jesus called Peter and John away from their work as fishermen to follow Him and become "fishers of men" (Matthew 4.18-22). Though we don't know their exact ages when called, Christ's call on their lives was a lifelong commitment.

Daniel served under Babylonian and Persian rulers for at least 65 years. In his 80s, he was still going strong, battling in prayer against spiritual forces (Daniel 10). The angel Michael gave him these final words: "But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age" (Daniel 12.13).

Tragically, after Jehoida's death, Joash turned away from God and even had Jehoiada's son Zechariah executed when he prophesied against the king's unfaithfulness. This reminds us that while we can have tremendous influence, each person must ultimately make their own choices before God.

Our story regarding Eli begins not with Eli but with God's judge who will succeed him. God's successor to Eli will be the great prophet/judge Samuel so we begin with his birth and background.

David numbered Israel with sobering consequences. His heart troubled him after he had numbered the people, and he said to the Lord, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done." (2 Samuel 24.10)

Joshua (along with Caleb) spoke with confidence about how God would take them into the promised land and defeat the enemies. He had great confidence in God who would be with them.

Gideon's story shows how even those who experience great victories can stumble in their later years. Though he declined the invitation to be king, saying "the Lord shall rule over you," he requested gold from the spoils and made an ephod (idol) that "became a snare to Gideon and his household."

We first meet Joseph when he was born to Rachel as the 12th son of Jacob. Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb. So she conceived and bore a son and said, "God has taken away my reproach." She named him Joseph, saying, "May the Lord give me another son" (Genesis 30.22-24). A good name is better than a good ointment, And the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth (Ecclesiastes 7.1).

As I think about the life of Naomi and how she lived her later years, I cannot help but think of a principle that we learn in the Advent story 3 you cannot tell the end from the beginning. Apart from the Old Testament promises of the Messiah and the angelic announcements of Messiah's birth, the majestic destiny of Jesus might never be guessed from His humble beginnings and surroundings.

We meet Simeon and Anna in the Advent section of the Gospel of Luke. As characters of the Advent story, they seem to be the oldest people one will meet. Perhaps as the oldest people in the Advent story we would be wise to pay attention to how they were living in their aging years.

Now if a Levite comes from any of your towns throughout Israel where he resides, and comes whenever he desires to the place which the Lord chooses, then he shall serve in the name of the Lord his God, like all his fellow Levites who stand there before the Lord (Deuteronomy 18.6-7).