Fruitfulness

“The godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon . . . They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.”

Psalm 92:12-14 NLT

When Leon Ornstein died (on this day in 2002), he was 109 years old, at least according to some records. But he actually might have been older! There was uncertainty because his exact birth date was lost when he and his family fled to America from Russia.

Displaying remarkable skills as a pianist, Ornstein seemed destined to become an international sensation. Yet, in 1922, as his career was gaining momentum, he stopped performing in public. Weary of the fickle opinions of critics, he focused on teaching and composing, first at the Philadelphia Musical Academy and then his own Ornstein School of Music.

Not everyone loved his compositions, which could be gnarly and complicated. But it was hard not to be impressed with his longevity. For he composed throughout his life. His last official composition, his Eighth Piano Sonata, was finished in 1990, when he was almost 100 years old!

His story reminds us that we can be productive even as we age. This particularly is true for Believers. In fact, the Bible promises that God can provide long, fruitful lives, that those who are righteous “will flourish like a palm tree,” trees known to thrive, even in dry, remote areas where the temperatures were hot.

God can bless us just like those palm trees. If we please Him, He promises to cause us to flourish with blessings that never fade, and that we will “still bear fruit in old age,” and “stay fresh and green.”

With God’s blessing, you can be fruitful in everything you do, throughout your life. Start by believing His promises, and putting them into practice. He can make you like a palm tree. Fruitful, in any condition. At any age.

Prayer: Father, help me to be fruitful for Your Kingdom. I yield my life to the control of Your Spirit. May Your fruit flow through me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.