Many times, as individuals we live in our own little world, only considering the present. But God tells us to be concerned where we came from and where we are going. What have we been taught and what are we passing on to the next generation?
Psalm 78:6 says “that the generation to come might know them, even the children which should arise and declare them to their children.” We are not to live just to ourselves, but realize the importance of teaching and giving the things of God that have been given us to the next generation.
In our teaching, the Word of God must be our foundation. “Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth and it abideth” (Psa 119:89-90). Christ also said, “That which ye have already, hold fast till I come. Hold fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Rev 2:25,3:11). How are we laying this foundation? We as husbands, the head of our homes, must take the responsibility to lead out in spiritual decisions. Are we personally in the Word of God? This establishes a foundation for a stable family position in the things that pertain to godliness and holiness.
Establishing the Word of God in our lives and those of our families requires faith. This only comes from reading and hearing the Word of God. “For he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb 11:6). Faith is taking God at His word, knowing that it is truth without any questions. As we personally imbibe the Truth only then can we pass it on to the rising generation. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). Faith makes invisible things visible, so that the things we can visibly see, we can understand that they were created by God whom we cannot see.
Since Christ died for all, “they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves” (2Co 5:15). Are we telling the coming generation why we live and believe as we do? The apostle Paul gave us this guide: “The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2Ti 2:2). Do we believe that the next generation will somehow acquire knowledge on their own, without any guidance to the truth of the Gospel?
The Scriptures teach how and why we are here. “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” Do we teach our children the simple truths of God’s creation, or do we shirk our duty and let the worldly evolutionists influence them first? Ungodly men will try to tell us that the world is becoming better, and advancing in knowledge and wisdom. We know from 1 John 5:19b “that the world lieth in wickedness.”
What are we passing on to the next generation? In the Old Testament, God commanded that the stories of His mighty acts in Israel’s history and laws be passed on from parents and children. In charging them with this, He highlighted the purpose of teaching history: to help each generation to obey God and set their hope on Him.
We will not pass on to the next generation things that we do not believe or understand. This calls for diligence to know the truth of the Scriptures and have them hidden in our hearts. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col 3:16). How we believe and relate to the word of Christ will challenge the next generation to grasp the importance of personally receiving the engrafted word with joy. This will spring up in faith that will further the Gospel to propel them to continue in a faith that is enduring and solid. As the apostle, Paul challenged Timothy “The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2Ti 2:2).
We must not keep the Gospel to ourselves, but we are accountable to pass it on to the next generation. This will enable them to have the purity of faith and to also pass it on to their posterity which God could bless them with. “They shall come and declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born that he hath done this.” (Psa 22:31)
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