RESCUING A FAILING GENERATION (PART 1)
And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD that he did for Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
The year 2019 is a year many around the world have great expectations and goals set. It’s almost four months to the end of the year, so far, some goals have been realised while others are yet to be a reality. There were planning and praying sessions map out to the realisation of these goals at individual and family levels. Jehovah God Himself has His goals which remains same ‘’that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth’’ (1 Tim.2:4).
But what I see is the opposite of God’s expectation and goals. We have abandoned God’s goal and cleaved to ours. We have become self-centred thereby neglecting the fact that someday things would not remain the same again. We have forgotten that the time would come when we shall stand before our maker to give an account of what we have done so far. 2 Cor.5v10
Most in Christendom are pursuing material wealth which has no eternal value. It adds nothing to the kingdom of God our Father. Today we have a generation of Christian families who are not mindful of eternity anymore. We live our lives continually falling prey to the enemy of our soul. We cry out for mercy continually without the willingness to live a consistent holy life before our maker. But remember that Christ Jesus is coming soon to take home the church, how prepared is this generation of ours?
In our opening text, Judges 2: 7-10, we read of how the children of Israel served the Lord in the time of Joshua their leader and during the time of the elders who outlived Joshua. But a time bomb was already tickling because something was gradually fading off: KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND THE WORKS HE DID. The spiritual structure that should uphold the next generation was gradually weakening and declining. Not much of God’s knowledge was given to the upcoming generation and when the time came, the bomb of ignorance exploded and gave birth to a generation who knew not the God of Israel and the works He did. Darkness set in and took over that generation. Is the present Christian generation not about plunging into the same era again? We have experienced the dark ages we do not want to delve into it again.
Dear Parents, Pastors and minsters of God, this is a clarion call to rise up from our slumber and rescue this generation from ignorance.
When I walk the streets during personal evangelism, what I see is a generation without the knowledge of God. Ask a youth about Jesus, they know little or nothing about Him but ask the same youth to sing the latest release of any worldly artiste, they would give it to you off hand without missing a line.
Our youth are being fooled to believing that we can win over the youth in the world by being fashionable as them, loving their style of music thereby introducing it to the church as this has become the style these days, thinking we might win them over to Christ Kingdom but instead of our expected result the reverse is the case: Christian youths are wooed to the world. ‘’And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.’’ (Rom 12:2)
The generation after Joshua failed because the generation before them did not do what was expected of them to do. What did God instruct them to do? ‘’And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. (Deu 6:6-9)
There are nine instructions God gave to the children of Israel to do as enumerated in the above scripture Deut.6:6-9 which is as follow:
1. The word shall be in the hearts of the Parents. (God was talking to the family at this point).
2. Parents shall teach the Word in their hearts to their respective children DILIGENTLY.
3. They shall discuss the Word of God (not news and rumours of the day) with their respective children.
4. They should take a walk with their children and discuss/enlighten them further on the Word of God (not to spend the time for children for unnecessary chatter)
5. Parents should engage their children their children in the evening in the word (not home videos and cartoon networks)
6. The Word should be the first thing to discuss with children when they wake up (not dashing out to return late in the evening)
7. Give them a wrist band that bears the Word of God and not just the name of a church or a tag
8. Give assignment of memorising verses of the Bible to the children daily or weekly.
9. Paste citations on walls of the children’s bedroom, study room (not pictures of a wrestler or football star)
I want to believe that if the elders and Parents of Israelites had applied this Godly principle of teaching their children over time, they would not record failure of the next generation after their departure. If the present day Christian family could apply this principles of teaching the world to children growing up into teenagers and youths, we would have a generation that would seek God with all their hearts and soul.
What then is/are the cause(s) of a failing generation?
1. Parents are not well rooted in Christ Jesus and not grounded in the Word of God. ‘As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.’’
(Col 2:6-7). There is no way you can give what you do not have. A Parent who is not in Christ Jesus will definitely not be able to preach same to his or her children. Hence the resultant effects we see today. It is one thing to be zealous for God but it is another thing to know Him intimately. An intimacy with God will definitely rub off on the children. I am not saying intimacy means becoming a minister or worker in church but developing close walk with God. In doing this our children must imitate such. We saw this in Isaac meditating in the field because, I believe, he saw his Father doing it. ‘’ And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide…’’ (Gen 24:63).
2. Ministers of the Word of God have shifted attention from Jesus to the world. Unlike Apostle Peter who said they would give attention to the Word and to prayer. ‘’ Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables…. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. (Act 6:2-4)
3. Programs and activities for the younger generation are most times worldly. We try to discourage our younger generation from worldly activities and worldly program by bringing those kind of program and activities to the church. ‘’ Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.’’
2Tim. 2:22. We should try as much as possible not to reproduce worldly programs and activities in church but we should try and create new programs and activities for the younger generation.
4. A rapidly changing system of things in the world. We cannot rule out developments and civilisation of the world but as Christians, we must remain committed to Christ Jesus, not just physically but in our minds and hearts. ‘’ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.’(Col 3:1-3)
5. Wrong source of information. Most teenagers and youth are exposed to various platforms of information and without supervisory role of the Parents they fall prey to information that kill them gradually. Some of these information are found on social media, entertainment platforms, misinformed classmates and friends. ‘’ Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. (1Tim. 4:13-16)
(To be continued)
Written by
Shina Oluwadimu
+234-909-747-8060, +234-905-967-2446
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