Over the last almost two decades of hanging out with the very elderly, I’ve found that there are two basic kinds of people at life’s end—those who’ve tended their spiritual needs and those who haven’t.
 
The former tend to be peaceful and content, no matter how physically handicapped they may be, or how sick, or how alone. They are an inspiration to us young ‘uns, and a joy to visit. And when they’ve gone on ahead, they are remembered often and missed greatly.
 
The latter, on the other hand—those who have no use for the spiritual—tend to be chronically sad, lonely, crabby, complaining, bored, and often clinging tearfully to their once-active pasts. It’s a recipe for despair. And I see a lot of it—more and more as the years go by, which is no doubt a reflection of our culture’s increasing embrace of the material world and growing neglect of the spiritual.
 
The ancient Greek philosophers posed three very important questions whose answers may predict which category you’re likely to fall into should you live to a ripe old age:

1. Where did you come from?
2. What are you doing here?
3. Where are you going?

 
If you’re Christian, you’ll be able to answer all three quickly, and with great certainty. And whether you’ve been a member of that blessed group for 50 hours or 50 years, your assurance should land you solidly in the first group of people on the cusp of eternity—those who’ve tended their spiritual needs, and are therefore peaceful and content.
 
If you are not Christian, you may be able to answer these questions with a little guesswork and a lot of wishful thinking. Or perhaps you’ll be stumped. Either way, you may be headed for the second group of old folk—those who are sad, lonely, crabby, complaining, bored, and clinging to the past.
 
That’s my prediction, at any rate, based on many years of observation.
 
But there’s good news even for the despairing, because it’s never too late to change your tune. If you’d like to know for sure where you came from, what you’re doing here, and where you’re going, simply ask the Lord to save you. There are no magic words; just pray a prayer something like this one:
 
Dear God,
I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. Instead, I repent of all my sin, trust in You as my Lord and Savior, and gratefully receive Your free gift of eternal life. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for dying on the cross in payment for my sin and for rising from the dead to defeat death once and for all. Please cleanse me of my iniquity and make me Yours forevermore. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
 
When you pray something like this from your heart, the Lord will instantly forgive you and grant you everlasting life. Congratulations—you are irrevocably heaven-bound!
 
Then, set your heart on growing in your new faith. Begin studying the Bible, turning first to the New Testament gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. And if possible, find a mature Christian to disciple you. Not that these things are necessary for salvation; they are not. But they’ll go a long way towards assuring you of peace and contentment in this life, and transforming you into the sort of old person who’ll be greatly missed when you go on ahead. 

By Christian Worstell 

Do you have a loved one who’s battling Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia? If so, he or she may benefit greatly from the warm and loving fellowship available at worship services or at other church activities such as Bible studies or hymn sings. Events like these are a great way to help your loved one rediscover hope, find new meaning for his or her life and seek the Creator’s love and will.
 
Attendance at such events may also provide some relief from, or actually delay the worsening of, the symptoms of dementia.
 
Here are four ways that church-related events can be beneficial to your loved one.

1. Church is a place to socialize.

Whether it’s held in a traditional church or at the facility where your loved one is now living, a worship service is at least in part a social event. Catching up with old friends and meeting new ones in such a socially stimulating environment can play an important role in the life of someone suffering from dementia.
 
Socializing with others helps to prevent the feelings of isolation, loneliness and depression that can be an issue for all seniors, but especially the cognitively impaired. It can also promote improved brain function by helping your loved one to focus on thoughts and conversation, while strengthening his or her connections to time and place.
 
Just as important, research shows that socialization can slow down the progression of memory loss for people with Alzheimer’s.

2. Church offers a routine.

A regular, established routine can help calm and reassure someone with dementia. A church service that begins at the same time each week means getting out of bed, getting dressed, having something to eat and traveling to a familiar place down the hall or across town – all on a consistent schedule. Afterwards, you can offer a regular meal or some other post-service activity.
 
Routines can enhance both long-term memory and procedural memory--how we like to do things. Dementia generally attacks short-term memory first, leaving procedural and long-term memories in place. As a result, many people suffering from cognitive decline are able to remember their routines with surprising accuracy, and frequent attendance at church events can help support their memories.
 
Such routines also help alleviate the stress and anxiety of not knowing what to expect, a frequent problem for those suffering from dementia.

3. A church community can offer plenty of help.

A place of worship is also a place of community. Senior adults battling dementia don’t always get enough of the support they need—even when they’re living in a long-term-care facility.
 
What better place than a church full of loving and compassionate people to find people willing to assist with chores, transportation, or frequent fellowship? After all, Christians have been charged with visiting “orphans and widows in their trouble” (James 1:27), and many are looking for an opportunity or invitation to fulfill that responsibility.

4. Going to church can help you cope.

A dementia diagnosis can be as difficult for you as it is for your loved one. But sharing in faith-based activities can help you both manage your feelings while sharing your confidence in the joyful eternity awaiting all believers.
 
Not surprisingly, there’s scientific evidence to back that up. Numerous studies reveal that faith and spiritual practices have helped people find hope even in the face of cognitive loss and physical suffering.   
 
If you care about someone battling dementia, consider inviting him or her to a church service or other event in the near future—at your church, perhaps, or wherever that person lives. After all, joining a Christian community has a way of changing lives in more ways than one.