4 One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. – Psalm 145:4-7
Soul Man
Jonathon Edwards is considered by many to be the greatest theologian in American history. His sermons and his theological writings have continued to greatly influence the landscape of Christianity long after he preached his last sermon. But his primary concern wasn’t in the realm of the academic or intellectual. Rather, being a spiritually minded man (Romans 8:5), Edwards was passionate about the souls of his fellow man. Especially his own children.
When the great English preacher George Whitefield made a return visit to the United States in 1740, Jonathon Edwards made sure he secured him to preach in his church in Northampton, New England. Although Edwards considered Whitefield to be rather flamboyant, he could not deny the hand of God upon his preaching. Even his own wife stated that Whitefield was the best preacher she had ever heard. Ouch.
Regardless of their differences, Jonathon Edward invited George Whitefield to his personal residence to address his children in spiritual matters. Despite his larger than life credentials, Edwards was more concerned about the souls of his children than his pride. Thankfully so. A few years later his daughter Jerusha would pass away at the age of seventeen. Their consolation was the certainty of her salvation, thanks to the influence of Whitefield.
Jonathon and Sarah Edwards have a great legacy in church history, and it includes their recognition of their greatest God ordained responsibility, the proper training and instruction of their children. Specifically, as the Psalmist reminds us, one generation is obligated to teach the next about the works and character of God.
Dire Consequences
2 and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord. – Exodus 10:2
7 And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel….10 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel. – Judges 2:7,10
Imagine growing up an Israelite, hearing the accounts of the Exodus. With a mighty hand God unleashed His plagues on Egypt culminating with the Passover. As Pharaoh and his army pursued your ancestors, God parted the waters to provide a way of escape. Once safe on the other shore, God then used the same waters to drown Pharaoh and his army.
For years, your ancestors wandered in the desert led not by Moses, but by God Himself in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. Daily God fed the people and kept their clothes from wearing out. Every day they were sustained was a miracle, yet God performed many other signs along the way to show His awesome character.
When Moses passed, God continued to perform miracles under Joshua’s leadership as the promised land was conquered and possessed. Who could ever forget what He did at Jericho as He crumbled their mighty wall. But forget they did. As we see from the Book of Judges, another generation arose who did not know God or His works. Inevitably, chaos pursued as everyone then did what was right in their own eyes.
“If God does not exist, everything is permitted.” – Dostoevsky
Image Bearers
If God doesn’t exist, everything is permitted not simply because of a lack of a punisher, but because of a lack of purpose. In other words, many people who do not believe in eternal punishment will still promote “morality” and ethics. But what is their ultimate foundation? What is the basis of their teaching, and from where do their morals or ethics derive?
If God doesn’t exist, then we are not His image bearers. Accordingly, if God has not created us in His image, then we are not His children. If God has not “set eternity in the hearts of men”, what is our value? What are we here for? Further yet, can we really “wrong” one another and who would define what that looks like?
Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the flesh, which Paul tells us is death (Romans 8:5-6). We must not deceive ourselves. The only difference between the profligate sinner and the moralist is one of degree, not substance.
Look around you. We live in a society that rejects truth. Everyone seems to be doing what is right in his own eyes. Which is just another way of saying they are doing wrong. There is little respect for our fellow man. In our self-centeredness we have no respect for those in authority. In fact, many of us are shaking our fists in defiance at a God we don’t believe in! Doesn’t it seem that we are living in a time that can be summarized with the statement from Judges?
“And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done”
Responsibility
5 He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
6 that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
7 so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
8 and that they should not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God. – Psalm 78:5-8
As Christians, we alone understand what is wrong with the world. We see the powers and principalities behind the visible. With our spiritual eyes, we see the rulers of the darkness of this world. It is a conflict between heaven and hell. Our politicians and educators don’t have the ability to deal with the problems.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, it is time we accept responsibility. The world is going to act like the world. We can’t lament that. Nor can we neglect the clear mandates of God. We have to act like spiritually minded people who are passionate about souls. We have to tell of the works of God, beginning with our children and grandchildren. Rather than witnessing a generation who does not know the Lord or His works, I would rather be a part of a “great awakening”. If it could happen during the lives of Edwards and Whitefield, it can certainly happen today.
We may not have witnessed the miracles that were performed during the days of Moses and Joshua. Or even those performed during the lives of Elijah and Elisha or those that occurred during the book of Acts. But we know the character of God because of the Scriptures and the life of Christ who is the exact representation of our Heavenly Father. Bottom line, the character of God is our final authority. We need to share Him. It begins with the Gospel. It begins in our homes.
If you are a born again Child of God, you have a testimony that you can share with your children and grandchildren “that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God”. Our children and our world need that hope!! Seeing fists raised in defiance turn to hands raised in praise would be miracle enough for me.
“…this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” – 1 John 5:4b
Faith
I am no theologian, in fact I am far from it. I will never be confused with Jonathon Edwards for sure. But I firmly believe that a hallmark of the Christian faith is perseverance (Matthew 24:13). So much so that I always remind my children, and whoever else will listen, that as long as we have our faith we can’t “lose”. In other words, no matter what the world throws at us, or how bad the circumstances may seem, we always have our faith to “carry” us.
I say this not so much as a challenge but a reminder. Our faith is not in our limited capacities or abilities, but rather in a sovereign all powerful God who loves us with a perfect love and holds us in His hands. Our perseverance isn’t a reflection of our ability to hold on, but His. Our responsibility is to surrender our lives to Him and trust Him with it.
When the storms of life shake our world, and once again remind us that we are not autonomous, we are soon reminded that our faith is our most “valuable” possession. Because of who our faith is in. Life’s crises have a way of exposing the limited value of our worldly possessions, talents and even our diplomas that so many of us place our “faith” in.
Like the apostles in the storm tossed boat we have one hope; “Jesus save us.”
Faith Refined
As I have been sharing the last couple of weeks, our family has gone through another storm. However, as difficult as it has been, I must say I have never been more proud of my children for the way they have responded. The death of baby Isaiah was a great shock and the pain has been excruciating, but Christ has been our anchor, and the Church has been His hands and feet.
The love expressed by and to my family and been very humbling to behold. In a very real way our faith has been refined and our relationships forged by the fire we have gone through. Even in the midst of something so sorrowful, we see the mighty workings of God. Workings that we will share with the children yet unborn.
Unless the return of Christ is soon, most of us will not get out of this world alive, so let me repeat, as long as we have our faith we can never “lose”. It is a Truth I will probably have etched on my tombstone so that even in death I can “teach” generations to come. Every generation needs and deserves to hear Truth.
Daniel & Isaiah
On the evening after Isaiah’s burial, our son-in-law Daniel showed up at our house. However, it wasn’t to visit us, but rather his firstborn son in the cemetery next door. With a folding chair in one hand and Isaiah’s children Bible in the other, Daniel made his was over to Isaiah’s grave. Once there, he promptly settled into his chair and opened the Bible, and commenced reading to his beloved son.
As I saw Daniel at the graveside through my window, I was struck with mixed emotions. The sadness of Isaiah’s passing was intermingled with the humorous irony of the scene. What could Daniel possibly teach his son who is in the presence of the living Word? But I must confess, as stated earlier, pride overruled the sadness and humorous. Faith ruled the day, and as sorrowful and painful as it was, we didn’t “lose”.
Daniel recognizes the existence of God and His perfect character. Because he does, he also understands the sanctity of human life and the fact that God is the Author. Accordingly, he wanted to share God’s Truth with his firstborn. It is a privilege and responsibility he takes very seriously. Daniel recognizes that his faith is his most valuable possession. Why wouldn’t he want to share it with his son?
May God challenge and enable us to be as obedient as Daniel in sharing the greatness of God to the next generation, for their hope and God’s fame!
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. – 3 John 4