This is such an important step that we too often neglect or at least forget. Think about your own congregation, if you were facing such a pressure packed situation, do you think you would you point them back to the previous generation? It is common today to embrace the prominence of the now. We tend to act like we think that we are the most important generation. We rarely look over our shoulders unless we are looking down our noses or tickling our curiosity. However, for Christians, looking back is vitally important for marching ahead faithfully. There is great value today in looking back to yesterday. This is one reason I so enjoy reading biographies of faithful men and women from church history.
Instead of being enamored with what is new or who is new and up and coming, Christians would be well-served to look back. We should resist the impulse to be enamored with the new guys and find ourselves encouraged by the old guys, even those who are in the clubhouse. After all, they finished!