By David Faust
How far can you see into the distance? With 20/20 vision you can read the optometrist’s eye chart accurately at a distance of 20 feet, but healthy human eyes can see a lot farther than that. Those fluffy white cumulus clouds floating overhead are probably more than 2,000 feet away, and you can see the moon though it’s 238,855 miles from Earth and the sun though it’s 93 million miles away.
How far can you see into the future? Maybe you’ve heard the advice, “Dream 20 years ahead, think 10 years ahead, plan five years ahead.” The problem is, we don’t even know what lies one day ahead. Sometime in the future the return of Christ, the resurrection, and the final judgment lie ahead. And here is another sure thing: Our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will live with the consequences of decisions we make today.
Joshua’s Error
Tim Underwood preaches for a church in a neighboring state. He’s about half my age. For the last five years we have eaten lunch together once a month at the same restaurant (Skyline Chili). We talk about sports, life, and ministry. I learn a lot from him and hopefully he learns some things from me. Because his name is Timothy, and because he has wanted to be a preacher since he was young, Tim says his favorite Bible verse is 1 Timothy 4:12: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers.”
During a recent lunch conversation, Tim brought up the biblical character Joshua. He asked, “Do you know Joshua’s biggest mistake?”
“No,” I said. “Joshua did a lot of things right. He even gave us the inspirational quote, ‘As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’”
“Yes, he did great things,” Tim replied. “But Joshua had one big flaw. He didn’t prepare a successor.”
It’s a good point to ponder. The Bible says, “Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel” (Joshua 24:31). It didn’t take long, though, for them to forget God’s covenant. “After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10).
Overcoming Generational Entropy
Every generation needs to know the Lord. The gospel’s progress must never stall or stop. Moses passed the leadership baton to Joshua. David handed the kingdom to Solomon. Timothy and Titus extended Paul’s ministry. Who will succeed you? Who will continue your work? How can you help the next generation reach the Promised Land?
The Lord wants his precepts taught “so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children” (Psalm 78:6). Immediately after Peter’s exhortation in Acts 2:38 (repent and be baptized) comes the vision of Acts 2:39: “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off.”
An 8-year-old boy told my friend Tim that he wants to be a preacher himself someday. The boy said, “I feel like I’m a little one of you.” That boy can see pretty far. I hope we can, too.
Personal Challenge: Invite someone from a different generation than your own to meet you for lunch or coffee. Whatever else you discuss, include this question: “What can we learn from each other about faith in God?”
Author: David Faust
David Faust serves as contributing editor of Christian Standard and senior associate minister with East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is the author of Not Too Old: Turning Your Later Years into Greater Years.
