THE DUTY OF A GENERATION
by Jeff Moran,
Bethel Missionary Baptist Church
About four years ago I began to research our family genealogy. I
have always enjoyed history, so for me such work is a labor of love. In working
my way back in time, from son to father, I have reflected often about the
influence that family and upbringing have upon people’s life-paths and their
spiritual heritage. From this thought and reflection I have concluded there is a
paramount duty that every generation of Christians is called upon to fulfill.
“In the span of a single generation, such failure can start a downward spiral
that will end in the spiritual ruin of those yet unborn. Lord, save us from such
a fall!”It has been the duty of some generations to fight in world conflicts.
Others have had to endure the economic hardship of a national depression. But
the most important challenge ever faced by a past generation still faces us
today: instilling in our children a love for God and a commitment to His work.
Deut. 6:5-7 says, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command
thee this day, shall be in thine heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently
unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and
when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest
up.”
Some might argue that the primary duty of a generation is to provide a better
standard of living for its children, such as better healthcare, a higher
education, or financial prosperity. These are certainly noble and worthwhile
goals, but we must never forget that our foremost obligation is to glorify God
and to teach our children to do likewise. In my humble opinion, this is the
ultimate duty that a generation can face.
We are not so presumptuous as to think that the existence of the Lord’s church
depends entirely upon us. Thankfully, the Lord has said that the gates of hell
will not prevail against His church, and that He will find faith upon the earth
when He returns. However, nothing says the faith He will find will be here, in
America. We need not travel far to find communities that were once hosts to
thriving churches - great soul-saving stations for God. Today these churches are
only shadows of their former selves, if they exist at all.
How could this be? How could folks allow this to happen? Since churches are only
as strong as the families who comprise them, I believe the answer lies mainly in
the homes. Homes where parents were not heard praying or seen reading God’s
word. Homes where children did not see parents depending on God to meet their
needs or direct their decisions. Homes where parents did not provide consistent
discipline and training for their children. Homes where children were not taught
the importance of getting saved, joining the church, choosing a Christian
spouse, and making a life-long commitment to serving the Lord. In short, homes
in which God and His work were not given the preeminence.
In the span of a single generation, such failure can start a downward spiral
that will end in the spiritual ruin of those yet unborn. Lord, save us from such
a fall! Grant to us the grace and determination to serve you faithfully, and to
make our homes the ideal spiritual environment for raising children who will do
the same. With your help, O Lord, we can look with hope toward the future of our
churches. Through your help, O God, we can pass along a spiritual heritage and
fulfill our duty as a generation of Christians.
