There is a tendency for us to think that our beliefs and values will naturally continue on to the next generation. The nation of Israel assumed that their faith in God would continue on to the following generations. God did a mighty work in the fledgling nation of Israel. This was a generation that knew God personally. Their children had seen the works of the Lord, they knew about the Lord. These people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua. The writer of the book of Judges then tells us what happened to the following  generation,

All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel. (Judges 2:10)

We see from this example that we are only one generation away from losing the values of our parents. Dostoevsky reminds us, “If God does not exist, everything is permissible.” Sadly that was the legacy of the nation of Israel,

Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals, and they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the Lord to anger. (Judges 2:11-12)

This principle applies to us today. We have a responsibility to equip the next generation. God had provided the guidelines for passing on the faith and values to the next generation,

Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)

How are you equipping the next generation? Let’s learn from Israel’s mistakes and follow God’s advice as we diligently teach the next generation.

RickAssociate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

Follow me on twitter:  rickhiggins5