Loui Voyer’s sermon is a heartfelt reflection on Psalm 71 and the lives of believers who have “left a mark” for Christ across generations. He begins by recalling men and women from Westbank Bible Chapel and beyond whose faith, love, and Christlike character impacted him deeply—“They still speak to me today,” he says. Their legacy raises the central question of the sermon: Are we leaving a mark for Christ on those around us?
1. Marked by Christ in Order to Mark Others
Loui emphasizes that we can only leave a mark for Christ if we ourselves have been marked by Him—saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus. He insists the first and essential step is a true, personal relationship with Christ, not mere religion, morality, or tradition.
“You’ll never influence your generation unless you have repented of your sin and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
This relationship must begin early and grow over a lifetime. Loui challenges young people: Are you taking advantage of being raised in Christian homes, under the Word, with godly examples?
2. Psalm 71 — The Prayer of an Aging Saint
Turning to Psalm 71, Loui highlights the prayer of an elderly believer whose strength is failing but whose desire is burning stronger than ever:
“Until I have showed Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to everyone that is to come.”
This is the heartbeat of the sermon: to influence one’s own generation and the generations to come for God. Even in old age, the psalmist asks God to sustain him so he can finish well.
Loui stresses that old age is “the hardest battlefield” for Christians—marked by bereavement, loneliness, depression, and new temptations to discouragement. But the psalmist does not ask for comfort or escape—he asks for deliverance from anything that would cause him to dishonor God or not finish well.
3. Examples of Lives That Leave a Mark
Throughout the sermon, Loui shares moving stories of believers who shaped his life:
Gene Archibald (Kamloops) — A man of prayer whose time alone with Christ left a “lingering perfume” of His presence.
A Nova Scotia preacher — Who stepped down from the pulpit when his memory began to fail, because he didn’t want to bring shame on God’s Word.
Wayne (Charlotte, NC) — Who praised God even on the day both his wife and his adult son died, demonstrating “conquering grace.”
Dale (Philadelphia) — An old saint longing daily for Christ’s return, whose hope was contagious to all around him.
These examples embody Psalm 71: a life marked by trust, praise, hope, prayer, courage, and perseverance. Loui urges: “These people didn’t set out to leave a mark. They simply loved and served the Lord.”
4. The Necessity of Continual Resort to God
The phrase “Be Thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort” becomes a major theme.
To live a life that influences others for Christ, believers must:
continually draw strength from God,
continually praise Him,
continually hope in His promises,
continually preach and live the gospel,
continually pray with a burden for future generations.
He warns that you cannot “continue” something you have not started—so young believers must begin a life of daily dependence now.
5. Living for God’s Glory and Finishing Well
A godly life, Loui insists, is one that is more concerned for God’s glory than for personal success or reputation. He recalls a dear preacher who stepped aside because he didn’t want to misrepresent God’s Word.
“He left a mark on my life by stepping down.”
Loui repeatedly returns to this question:
Is the glory of God the primary concern of your life?
He closes by reminding the church that our lives are short, purchased by the blood of Christ, and meant to bring Him honor. Real legacy is not in accomplishments but in a life that displays Christ and points others to Him.