Minister and author J.I. Packer may be seeing the last few stages of his ministry as blindness has overtaken him, and the 89-year-old writer can no longer do the things that he once did so well. However, in the midst of the decline of his eyesight, Packer still remains to inspire Christians with the Word of God.
In an interview with The Gospel Coalition, Dr. Packer ministers out of Ecclesiastes and reminds believers of the brevity of life, and as a response the need to surrender our lives to God.
"[Ecclesiastes] tells me now what it told me 40 years ago, namely, that we wear out, physically we come apart," said Packer to The Gospel Coalition. "You get old, and getting old means the loss of faculties and powers you had when you were younger. And that is the way God prepares us to leave this world for a better world to which he's taking us."
The Christian theologian then goes on to minister using the Ecclesiates 12:1 verse and tells of how important it is to get right with God as early as possible.
Dr. Packer is an author who has written a total of more than 300 books, journal articles, book reviews, dictionary entries, and innumerable forewords. His writing ministry has made him one of the most influential theologians of his time and of today's contemporary ministry, providing insight and wisdom take from the Bible for believers, pastors and ministers all over the world.
Over the Christmas holiday, Packer fell ill and lost his eyesight to macular degeneration, now rendering him unable to read and write. Though seen as the end of the theologian's official ministry, Packer remains that he is thankful for what God has given him.
"God knows what he's up to," Packer adds. "And I've had enough experiences of his goodness in all sorts of ways not to have any doubt about the present circumstances."
Packer is married to Kit, and together they have three children.
