Many people say great things about God and their devotion to Him. Some of these people do not endure to end. Many are faithful for a time, but do not finish the race. Simeon and Anna finished the race and finished it well. Eighty five percent of all unchurched adults have had a prolonged period of time during which they consistently attended a church.
People lie about such things.
People who say they attend church every weekend only do so half the time. People like to think of themselves as church going people when they are not. At any rate, the point is, many people used to live for God who do not do so today. I do not wish to enter the debate. I do invite both sides to agree that it is good to endure to the end.