And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel. -Judges 2:10
Last Sunday I preached from Judges 2:6-15 on the subject of “Second Generation Believers.” If you were there, you may recall parts of that message. If you were not, I recommend that you listen to the message on our website or podcast. Not because I am a great preacher (I don’t make a habit of recommending my own stuff), but because it is an important topic.
Joshua’s generation had passed away, a generation that had observed and benefited greatly from the direct action of God in their lives. The Promised Land had been occupied. God had made good on all his promises. The very next generation, however, did not know the Lord (meaning, likely, that they did not have a relationship with him, not that they did not know of him). They turned from the Lord and knew not his blessing, but his discipline. As I said Sunday, it is a sad narrative demonstrating that, not only had Israel not remained with the Lord once they entered the Land of Promise, but they never even started out committed to him. They got off to a bad start and never righted the ship, at least for any appreciable amount of time.
Significant problems arise when we refuse to pass on our faith and knowledge of the Lord to the next generation. We see this not only in the history of Israel narrated for us in the Old Testament, but also in our own lives and families and churches today. I provided seven suggestions Sunday for combating this problem. I repeat them for you here, again, not because I think I am incredibly quotable, but because I think putting them into practice can go a long way toward ensuring that we do not repeat the mistakes that so many have committed in the past. Here they are:
HOW DO WE INVEST IN FUTURE GENERATIONS?
- Prepare yourself: Fan into flame the gift(s) God has given you. This can be done in multiple ways, none more important than getting into God’s word and letting it get into you. Take advantage of opportunities to learn so that you have something of value to pass on to the next generation.
- Reorganize/Prioritize your life. Make discipleship a priority. Teach the next generation. Teach your children. Teach your grandchildren. “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). There are important things in life. None more important than living in God’s kingdom.
- Invest properly: look to heaven over earth. Lay up your treasures in heaven, not on earth. They will not last here - they cannot be taken away there (Matt. 6:19-21).
- Mature believers – make yourself available to those who need to be taught and trained.Don’t keep what you have learned to yourself.
- New/younger believers – ask for help. Reading the Scriptures and gathering for worship are great disciplines, but you will benefit greatly by learning directly from an older or more mature believer.
- Put pride and ego away – learn from anyone who can help you. Pride and ego prove contrary to spiritual growth. They are no more helpful in the kingdom of God than cement shoes are in a swimming contest. They only drag you down.
- Pray – seek opportunities. Ask God to help you grow. God will not leave you orphaned. His will for you is sanctification - it’s a prayer that cannot go wrong (1 Thess. 4:3).
Our faith does not have to grow cold, nor do we have to take it for granted. It is the greatest gift you have ever received, and it lasts for eternity. Do not let the fire die, burn hot for God – your whole life – and pass on that flame to the next generation!
IMPACT MAKERS
Starting Sunday, we will take a three-week break from our “Oikos– Foundations for the Family” series to focus on missions. We will return to our study in late September, but for now, let’s focus our attention on what it means to be those who impact our world through both local and global missions. Millions have never heard of Jesus. Some of them live in our own back yards. “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’”(Rom. 10:14-15)
Grace and peace,
Pastor Jym