17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come. (Psalm 71:17-18 NIV)
A buffet restaurant commercial opens with a family sitting around a table and the oldest person says, “Back in my day…” I don’t know what he says next, because I hit the mute button. However, I’m struck by this common phrase among senior folk, “Back in my day.”
I write this as I’m just turning 75 and ask myself about “my day.” Do I think that “my day” is somewhere in my past? Do I look back to see my day? Obviously, most of my present life is in my rearview mirror and any Baby Boomer can look back to a pretty colorful, cultural past full of rock’n’roll, Vietnam, sports, and political intrigue. All of that can lead our generation, or any generation, to feel that things were much better “back in my day.”
But, again, is my day in the past?
And, if seeing it that way, am I being faithful to my Lord?
“No,” to both questions! My day is this day—today. Psalm 71 is instructive, here. My life is not that of the Psalmist. Thankfully, although in ministry there are always critics, I haven’t been pursued by enemies. Nevertheless, his perspective is mine and is faithful.
5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you. (Psalm 71:5-6 NIV)
That’s certainly my story, and maybe yours as well. On August 5, 65 years ago, I was reborn into Christ, and that, too, is part of my story. Every day over all those years, God has been preparing me for today. The same will be true tomorrow, and every day of however many days God gives me in this life. And for what has God been preparing you and me? We are to be His witnesses to our world all our remaining days. Notice again:
18 Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come. (Psalm 71:18 NIV)
Well, I’ve made it to old and gray, and I’m unforsaken by our faithful God. But our grandchildren are not there yet. I care about them, and I’m concerned for them. My day, this day, calls me to declare God to them. It is a verbal declaration of God’s power and mighty acts throughout the ages. But it’s not just verbal! Our lives of intentional love are our most powerful witness. It’s also not all past tense! The LORD is still powerful and still mighty in His acts. Will those who follow us have the eyes of faith to see God’s mighty acts in their lives? Will they have the faith in prayer to ask, expectantly, for our Lord to be mighty in their lives?
The New Testament’s Timothy had his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice, whose living faith mediated faith in God to him (2 Timothy 1:5). This Timothy’s grandmother and mother, Delia and Dean, did the same for me. Now, it’s time for Roxanne and me to be mediators of that very faith to those who follow us and do this in our day.
We will not be successful if we continually go on with, “back in our day.” Today is our day, and it’s a day for our living faith to shine. Whatever your age, this is your day for your shining faith.
All this prepares us for another day, which is The Day. That Day will come for all of us, including future generations. I pray that I can redeem each day God grants me to declare Jesus, who is God’s most powerful and mightiest act, to all who are to come. To do that, I need to affirm every day that today is my day.
Tim Kelley