Marriages that Influence Future Generations - March 26, 2017 - Steve Miller
Story: "Why the Old Man Planted Trees" by Dan Murdoch
Of all the things that we appreciate from those who have gone before us, and that we hope to give to those who come after us, what is the most important? Jesus expressed what really concerned Him:
Luke 18:8 - However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
What is God's purpose for marriage? There are multiple good purposes for godly marriage, but perhaps the most important one in God's eyes is that through godly marriage we pass on the faith to future generations.
In Genesis 1-2, God created man and woman to be one flesh. This union is imperative to God's purpose to fill the earth with godly offspring and rule it in righteousness, not only for biological reasons, but for spiritual ones as well.
After Adam and Eve fell into sin, Genesis 4 and 5 show two genealogies: one for Cain's line and one for Seth's line. Between the two lists, it states that "At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord."
According to Genesis 6, after the offspring who kept the knowledge of the Lord intermarried with the unbelievers, the whole human race became unbelieving, violent, and wicked to the point where God regretted making mankind and determined to destroy all but Noah's family.
Genesis 6:1-8
After the Great Flood, God chose Abraham's family to be His vehicle to preserve and spread the knowledge of Him and His ways to the future generations of the world.
Genesis 18:18-19 - 18Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”
God has always been concerned about passing on faith and knowledge of Him to the next generation. This was His main concern with Israel, and much of the responsibility of this he put on families.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
When the Lord brought His people into the Promised Land, He commanded and warned them to constantly teach their children His laws and His ways, to rid the land of idols, and to not intermarry with unbelievers.
Deuteronomy 7:1-6
What are you, whether single or married, doing to pass on the faith to future generations?
After Israel had occupied much of the Promised Land, Joshua again challenged the people and reminded them to serve God and keep His covenant.
Joshua 24:14-15 - "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
In our western culture, we Christians sometimes underestimate the command for parents to disciple our own children. They are meant to have a spiritual advantage, a head start.
Mark 10:14-15
If we do not teach our children to know and love the Lord from a young age, the world will surely step in and lead them the other way.
Judges 2:6-13
Chip Ingram, in Effective Parenting in a Defective World: Children will learn most by seeing what we do and how we live. Our marriages will teach and influence our children's faith even more than our words.
Malachi 2:10-16 - 15Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.
We live in a society full of temptation and examples of selfishness. We are not immune to temptation. But as Christians, with the grace of the Lord Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, the thought that our response to temptation will influence the lives and eternal destiny of our children and grandchildren is a very sobering stop sign.
Not only that, but our marriages present a picture of the relationship between Christ and His Church to our children. Husbands demonstrate who Christ is, and wives demonstrate how we respond to Him.
Ephesians 5:21-27
If we consider this message honestly, we will all find some point or another where we have failed. But there is good news. Godly marriage and parenting is another part of our lives that we must bring to the cross in repentance to seek forgiveness and grace from Jesus. It's not too late. If we humble ourselves before the Lord, and our spouses, and also before our children, He will lift us up and pour His grace upon us. Do not be afraid to repent to your family members; it's one of the most necessary and powerful things we can do.
Finally, if you are a parent who is divorced or married to an unbelieving spouse, don't feel discouraged or condemned about your situation. For Paul writes that a believing parent brings a sanctifying influence over his/her children.
1 Corinthians 7:12-14
Just how great of an influence does God want to exert on future generations through your life, your marriage?
