Our Children's Children - Pt 4

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:6-8 ESV). In our little series titled “Our Children’s Children” I’ve sought to walk you through some of my thought processes as we transition in our lives over the next few months. One of the great things about moving back to Texas is that we will be living within a short walk from Faith and Logan. Faith is especially excited about the prospect. I have told her that since I get up early every morning, it wouldn’t be any problem for her to stroll over and enjoy grandpa’s pancakes any time she wants. That thought brought me to another principle of truth found in our reading today. The writer encourages us to remember “our leaders.” The word may be better translated as “pilgrims,” or “travelers.” I’m told that along the old Oregon Trail in Idaho there is a marker, a giant lava boulder known locally as Register Rock. It’s located in an area which was one of the favorite overnight camping areas for westbound immigrants who traveled the trail in the 19th century. Travelers often inscribed their names on the rock as a memorial to their passage. Register Rock stands as a monument to their courage and tenacity. When I think of Register Rock, I think of other pilgrims who have passed by us on their journey. Hebrews 11 lists some of those hardy souls - Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel, to name a few. But there are other more recent pilgrims in my life who have passed this way. They may not have inscribed their names on rocks, but they’re written in my memory. Men like Bailey Stone, Bill Shamburger, and D. L. Lowry, who were early mentors in the ministry. Each had a special part in the forming of my theology and practical application of it in daily life. There have been many others, too many to name really. However, the point is each of them helped me along the way by simply traveling the path. Thinking about each of them reminds me of my responsibility to be such a pilgrim. I ought to remember that there will be others who will travel beside and behind me, especially my children’s children. I wonder what will be said of the way I walked in my journey. Was it done in faith or fear; was it in hope or despair? I pray it will be the former of those and not the latter. I may insure that by keeping my eyes clear focused on the principle “pilgrim.” Jesus has walked this way and shown us exactly how we may be triumphant in our own journey. I need to follow in his steps and thus lead others to do the same. How are you leading your children and their children? Point them to Jesus!