I am always encouraged by older people who have remained faithful Christians all their lives. Now, I know to my little Bible class students, I am probably old - but I am talking about those who are even older than me. I am talking about folks in their 70's and 80's, maybe even in their 90's. There is one sweet lady in our congregation is 95 years old. She is loved by everyone in our congregation. She is kind and loving and very encouraging to others.
Yes, older faithful Christians inspire me. They have often endured many storms and trials in their lives and yet nothing has caused them to be unfaithful to the Lord. They stick to their convictions. They continue to attend services even after they might lose spouses and they must come alone. Perhaps, they don't always feel as good as they wished - but if there is any way possible they are still at the services every time the door opens. Why is that, do you think? Why do they keep coming? They love Jesus! And they know without a doubt that Jesus and God loves them! They have lived a lifetime of devotion to Him and they wouldn't think of giving Him up now.
We have many Biblical examples of people who remained faithful to God all their lives. Some lived longer than others, yet they gave their entire lives for Him. One example I think of from the Bible is the prophet Daniel. I love the stories we find in Daniel. He was taken captive when he was very young. Some say that he could have been as young as 10 or 12; others say he was more likely somewhere between 15 -18. By the time he was thrown the time he was thrown into the lion's den, he was an old man. Most scholars say he was at least 80 or in his 80's. In other words, Daniel was faithful all his life. We don't read of any times that he sinned - or even slacked up in his faith and service to God.
Daniel was one of a group of younger men who were sons of nobles taken away into exile during the Babylonian captivity. You know the story, he was "re-educated" in their culture so that he would be fit to serve in king's court. Yet, he never wavered in his faith always knowing God would take care of him. Think about it, along with many of the Jewish population, lived in a country he did not call his own serving a king that was not his king. He served more than one king who worshipped pagan gods and he served them to the best of his ability. God blessed Daniel for his faithfulness and so he was always favored by the kings he served.
By the time Daniel was serving under Darius, he had been in captivity for between sixty and seventy years. I imagine he became discouraged. I imagine his heart longed for the home of his younger days. I am sure he wished that his people were not in captivity. Still he prayed three times a day to his God. And everyone that knew Daniel knew this. They all knew that Daniel served the God of Israel and that he had done so all his life. Yet, he was still favored by Darius. So much so that the other governors were jealous of him. They did not like it that the king gave Daniel so much attention -- that he gave Daniel a position of authority over them.
We all know the story -- those who were jealous appealed to the king's vanity and had him come up with a law that would forbid anyone in the kingdom to pray to anyone or any other God besides the king. Even though, Darius knew that Daniel served his own God - the one true God -- he must have been so carried away by all the flattery of the other governors that he forgot that Daniel worshipped a different God. It would only be a short time later that Darius would very much regret his rash decision.
We only have to read the scriptures to know what Daniel did when he heard about this new law. He did not panic. He did not protest. He really didn't bring attention to himself in any way. That is because Daniel knew what he would do. Without a doubt he knew. He had done it all his life and he wasn't about to change now. Why should he? He was still worshipping and serving the same God who was faithful to him and his three friends when they bargained with the chief eunuch so many years ago. He knew that God had made sure they were healthier than those who had eaten from the king's table.
Daniel knew that he still served the same God who had saved his friends from the fiery furnace when they refused to bow to anyone but the living God. Hannaniah, Mishael, and Azariah had been willing to die for their God. And Daniel knew that he must also be willing to die for God. He was sure of his God just like his friends had been, when they said "if we die, we die" but we will not bow to this false god. Daniel had the faith to know that if continuing to pray would end up costing him his earthly life that God would take him home. Regardless of how it was going to turn out, he knew that he could not fail his God.
So from 18 to 80 and longer, Daniel lived for God. He spoke for God and encouraged his fellow countrymen. God saved Daniel and through that God was glorified because Darius made a new decree declaring that Daniel's God was the true God.
Now what about you and me? Do people know where you will be on Sunday morning? What about Sunday night or Wednesday night? Do they know you put God first in everything you do? Have you made the same commitment to serve Him all your life like Daniel did?
What about all those sweet older people in your church family? Regardless of what they have been through, they have not given up serving the Lord. They have remained steadfast and unmovable, continuing to abound in the work of the Lord. (I Corinthians 15:58) They have not grown weary in well doing. And they have held fast the profession of their faith without wavering. (Hebrews 10:23) Will you follow their example?
Christ above all things,
Robin
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