Holding On To Faith

My once youthful body is now riddled with little aches and pains. My shoulder hurts. My knee throbs, and every time I do garden work my muscles scream in protest. My middle-aged body no longer has its former vigor. What I once took for granted, I now need to diligently attend to - taking vitamins, exercising, eating right, and getting rest.

The same can be said of our Christian life as we age in our faith. Young believers, new in the faith, have an excitement and zeal to grow, learn and make a difference in other’s lives. They look toward a great future of walking with God and growing in their faith. Young David was eager to prove that God would deliver Israel when he stood to face Goliath. His faith and passion became an example and inspiration to a whole nation. Then in his later years he strayed far from his youthful enthusiasm. He committed murder and adultery. How do you go from defeating a giant to stealing someone’s wife and then having his life taken from him?

As we age in our spiritual life, the responsibilities and concerns of life can cause us to step back. We can begin to watch from the sidelines, rather than being an active participator. I’ve seen some turn their back and walk away from a once-vibrant faith. Those who’ve made a difference in the lives of many have thrown their faith to the wind and turned away from the God they once served. Instead of remaining faithful, they embrace the sidelines, or worse - a life of sin. What a tragedy.

Many times I wonder why once vibrant Christians walk away from God or become lukewarm in their faith. What is it as we age that causes that to happen? It concerns me and makes me wonder how I can stay on track with God all throughout my life. Dale and I have talked about this more than once. At times I know my own heart strays and becomes cynical or distracted with the world’s pleasures. We really need to stay focused on following hard after God.

Recently I heard a song by Sanctus Real that I like called “Keep My Heart Alive.” It expresses the desire for God to help keep us focused on him when the world around us is distracting and wearing us down. Here’s a link of it here.

How can we stay strong in our faith and consistently walk with God?

The answer, in part, may lie in Paul’s admonishment to Timothy when he said, “you must hold firmly to faith and a good conscience.” Faith keeps us anchored in an omnipotent God. It is the foundation of our salvation and carries us through our lives as a believer. A good conscience keeps us free from the guilt of sin. We are clean before God, ourselves, and others. That brings us peace.

As our bodies age and need more attention, I think the same can be said for our spiritual lives. May we be diligent in holding onto a deep trust in God and tenaciously maintain a clear conscience, keeping free from sinful habits. Faith and a good conscience walk together hand in hand as we strive to live a life that is true and authentic.