Well. We went and did it. We joined the new seniors group at church last week.  I keep asking myself if we’re really seniors. I don’t feel like one, but I also know I’m not a spring chicken. I guess it’s time to admit the inevitable, because we’re not getting any younger. 

We met some new people that night. Some younger than us and some older. One couple has been around since the church was founded, and the man built the current church building. There’s some history among the older ones in the church, that’s for sure.

I find it very inspiring to know that multiple families who have attended this church throughout its life are still attending. Their longevity at the church speaks volumes. I’ve heard talk of some tough times in the past where many in the church left. Never to return. But it’s obvious that not everyone ran away from the troubles. Some stuck around and have since seen a healing in their church body.

The past few years have seen a resurgence in attendance, and the growth of the church continues. It appears to be a healthy and thriving place for folks of all ages. There’s a nice mix of young and old in the congregation. I like that. 

And then there’s our small group. It’s a group of less than ten people who are in our age range. And the beauty of this group is that they have been together for a long time. They not only have been in the same small group, but they have attended the same church for years. Their kids grew up together and know each other. They all know the good, the bad and the ugly about each other’s families. And yet, they’ve welcomed the two of us with open arms. They’ve welcomed newcomers to their community of believers. And it feels so right.

Oh sure. In this small group, we study the Bible. And we pray together. But there is also a time of lighter conversation as we partake of some light dessert. These people genuinely care about each other. And as they talk about their children and grandchildren, there is a deep sense of pride. They greatly enjoy spending time with their adult children, and they freely admit it. I recall one man recently beamed with pride when he spoke of his son telling him that he would like to spend his Sunday afternoon one on one. Tears easily flow down the face of another of these gentlemen as he is moved by the commitment each of his children has made to faithfully serve God. He cherishes the time he gets to spend with them.

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Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

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And no. Their families aren’t all perfect. There are some deep hurts and disappointments they’ve experienced over the years, but the frailty of family relationships hasn’t dimmed their love for their families or for their God. They remain deeply committed to both. Some of their children are currently walking down a road away from biblical principals, yet their parents remain committed to an open relationship with them. And when they take the opportunity to speak biblical truths at the appointed time. Regardless of the decisions their children make, they still love and pray for them.

These couples have stood the test of time in their faith and their marriages. They are a shining example of living a committed and faithful life not only to their chosen spouse, but also to their God. They have lived an imperfect Christian witness throughout the years, as any of us do, but their faith has only deepened throughout the hills and valleys of the years.

We don’t have to be perfect to be lifelong followers of Christ. We need to be consistent in our commitment of obedience when the Holy Spirit nudges us. We must be open to conviction when we are made aware of inconsistencies in our lives. Oh. These people I’ve recently begun doing life with don’t always get everything right. They would be the first to admit their flaws, but their walk with God through the years has proven that God is true to his word. His is faithful to those who call him Lord and Savior, and these few who call him Lord and Savior are faithful to him. Does life get any better than that?

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-9

We’re pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road
And those who’ve gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God’s sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who’ve gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives

Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we’ve left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find

Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful

~Steve Green