Once a Man, Twice a Child! (2023)

We are appointed to die once, then after death is the judgment. Death is a surety, and this is our fate in life.

After birth you will become a child, then you will grow into man/womanhood once, but after you have grown old, is it your destiny to become a child again?

Is the following a true statement?

“Once a man, Twice a child!”

For many years, I thought that the above quotation was in the Bible until recently when I read the biblical prophecy, which stated that the elderly who abides in God’s presence will befresh and flourishlike the palm trees.

I began to question the validity of the above phrase because it appeared to be contrary to the Word of God.

My search for this phrase in the Bible was in vain.

I googled this old proverb and discovered that it was not biblical. It might have been a quotation by a rabbi, or it might have had its roots from one of Shakespeare’s play – Hamlet.

The phrase implies that old age will attract debilitating illnesses that will necessitate nursing care similarly to that of an infant.

Indeed, evidences of this are seen very often in the hospitals and nursing homes every day.

It is heartbreaking to see these elderly patients bedridden and helpless. They totally depend on their family and health care workers for their daily sustenance.

As a child, I often heard my mother praying for extended life to see her children pass the worst (meaning that they would become independent adults).

She also prayed that she would not become severely ill so that she was dependent on anyone to care for her.

I objected to the latter because I told her that it would be my privilege to care for her if she ever become ill.

I remembered her fanning away my objections in no uncertain way and shook her head in determination.

She would emphasize that she did not want to be a burden to any of her children and she was confident that the Lord would answer her prayers.

Sure enough, the Lord answered my mother’s prayers.

My mother lived until she was eighty-three (83) years old. She was able to cook for herself, manually washed her clothes and took care of her basic needs.

She did not suffer from any so-called ‘old age’ diseases such as arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes.

Her only complaints were abdominal cramps due to excessive gas. I believe that herstomach pain resulted from anxiety because she constantly worried about her children and grandchildren.

My mother died peacefully on June 30, 2008, while she was praying in the bathroom.

The bathroom has always been her quiet place to pray. She awoke at the break of dawn, read her Bible and then prayed in the bathroom.

The day before my mother died she washed her clothes and cooked her breakfast.

She was not ill neither was she a burden to any of her children or grandchildren. The Lord granted the desires of her heart.

I believe that the Lord’s desire for all of us is good health.

He wants us to live an abundant life free from the bondage of sin and diseases and we will receive these blessings when we continually dwell in God’s sanctuary.

An excellent example was Moses who lived one hundred and twenty (120) years.

Although Moses led an unruly and rebellious nation during his old age he never took a sick day.

Moses dwelled daily in the presence of God speaking with Him face to face to receive guidance and wisdom to lead the children of Israel. (See Exodus 33:11)

Consequently, Moses face shone with the glory of God.

And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.

And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. (Exodus 34:29-30)

The glory of God kept Moses’ face bright and fresh and his body flourished with health and vitality.

When Moses died, his eyes were not dim, and his strength did not diminish.

I am grateful to God for my praying mother who lived a Godly and moral lifestyle.

I am reaping the benefits of her prayers and the legacy of her life.

“Once a man twice a child”has no biblical foundation, and it is totally against God’s principle. The word of God states:

When I was a child, I spoke as a child; I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1 Corinthians 13:11)

As an adult, you have to put away all things that pertain to childhood.These includeimmaturity and dependency.

Itis, therefore,imperative that you live a life of integrity and uprightness so that God can keep you fresh and in good health until He is ready to take you home.

Bear in mind that sickness is not a result of sin and it can attack anyone at any time.

But, I truly believe that regardless of congenital or acquired diseases, God is able to strengthen and keep you during your golden years.

Let the mottooveryour life be: “Once a child; Once a man by the grace of God”

Do you have a similar story that you would like to share with our readers?

If you do, feel free to share it in the reply box below.

Additional References: Hebrew 9:27; Psalms 92:10-15; Psalms 37:4; Deuteronomy 34:1-8

Featured Image courtesy of Boians Cho Joo Young/Freedigitalphotos.net