DAILY BYTEWe’re reflecting on some of the traveling companions who join us in our journey of life. Yesterday we looked at those who have gone before us, who have been faithful. Today we consider those who will come behind us, following in the footprints we will leave. They may only be following us in the future. Indeed, they may not even be born yet, but in a very real sense they are part of our journey here and now.
Indeed, one of the characteristics of the faithful listed in Hebrews 11 was the way in which they lived their lives so as to entrust their future, and their descendants, to God.
The question for us is this: In the ways in which we live our lives, what will be the legacy that we bequeath to our children and the generations that are to follow? This is a real question for all of us, whether we have children of our own or not. For all of us belong to this generation that will hand on our world, this country, the church and our faith to the generations that are to follow.
There’s a beautiful song by Jon Mohr entitled ‘Find us faithful’. The last verse goes like this:
“After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find.”
And then the chorus:
“O may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
O may all who come behind us find us faithful.”
What will our children discover about us, even after we’re gone, of the shaping influence of our world upon theirs?
If you’re facing something right now that makes you want to give up, or if you’re in some moral or ethical dilemma, think about those who will follow after you. What legacy do you want to leave behind? What shaping influence do you want to impart? May the vision of those who will come behind you sifting through the testimony of your life inspire you to persevere with faithfulness and purpose here and now.
PRAY AS YOU GO
Gracious Lord and God, what an awesome privilege it is to be a link in the great chain of faith that stretches across the ages and binds all your people together. And what a great responsibility to live my life in such a way that this chain not be weakened. May those who come after me receive the rich heritage of faithfulness that is passed down through godly living. On my own this is impossible, but with your help all things are possible. So help me today please Lord, for the sake of my children and all who are to follow, to live with faithfulness and purpose. Amen.
FOCUS READING
Hebrews 11:17-22
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.
