Legacy

"Tell your children of it,
    and let your children tell their children,
    and their children to another generation." (Joel 1:3)

I know a lot of people who have pretty dramatic stories of how they came to know God. Stories of broken homes, broken families, broken lives. Drugs and alcohol. Darkness.

To hear them tell their stories is moving, to say the least. Inspiring. Humbling to hear what God has done in their lives.

By comparison, my own story is pretty anticlimactic. Born to faithful, godly parents, raised in a strong, scriptural church ... the congregation I still attend, actually. Mom and Dad made sure I had a foundation that would remain solid my whole life.

And then I read a passage like this one, and realize anticlimactic is just fine when it comes to how I came to know the Lord. My parents followed those instructions. They told me (and my siblings) about God's works, His promises, His faithfulness. And we've told our children. And our children are telling theirs.

That's a legacy of faithfulness.

Don't think for a minute I believe I can get to heaven on my parents' faith. But their belief in, obedience to, and worship of God certainly put me on the right path. The path to a relationship with Christ.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is in Luke 5. Jesus is teaching in a house filled with people. I can see it, can't you? People leaning against walls and sitting on the floor because all the chairs are taken. People standing in doorways and looking in windows because they can't fit in the house.

And then there's those guys. The ones who bring their paralyzed friend to be healed. And they can't get anywhere near Jesus. So they turn around and leave.

No, of course not. They climb on top of the house and tear the roof off. They lower their friend down to Jesus. And He heals their friend.

So who carried you to Jesus?

Maybe it wasn't a dramatic story. Maybe it was just ... the powerful faith of two loving parents. And I thank God every day for those two people.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

• If you're able, thank the person (or persons) who led you to Christ. Maybe you've done this before, but I think it bears repeating.
• Spend some time in prayer, thanking God for that person, too.