Israel (aka Jacob) had lived a long and full life. Knowing that his time on earth was drawing to a close, he made preparations for his death and burial. With the end in sight, Israel kept his focus on God. Gen.47:31 says, “…Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.”

The mental picture of an old man leaning on his staff as he worships God inspires me. I too, want to be a faithful worshiper right up until the time that I die.

I see modern day versions of Israel. One in particular that I remember is Bill Lewis, a man that I went to church with a few years ago. Bill died at the age of 98, and he had relatively good health up until the last few months of his life. Bill was in church every Sunday. I remember an especially wintry Sunday morning. There was already about six inches of snow on the ground and more was falling. The wind was whipping the snow so fiercely that it was moving horizontally. Many members chose to stay home that day rather than brave the elements. Not Bill Lewis. Thinking back, I shouldn’t have been so surprised when this faithful saint–in his mid-nineties at the time–walked into the church building, leaning on the arm of one of his family members.

If I live long enough, I want to follow the example of Israel and Bill, worshiping to the very end. How about you?