Sinning... Again, and Again, and Again

Sinning

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And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel. Joshua 2:7 (ESV) 

And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel. Joshua 2:10 (ESV) 

The following statements unfortunately, are true in the minds of many people: “I am an adult, and I can do whatever I want! I can make my own choices and decisions! Unlike past generations, our society is more enlightened and informed due to our knowledge and technological advances! Therefore, we are not going to make the mistakes that are forefathers made, in the past.” Why is it we believe our generation has it altogether, than those who came before us? We feel we have the blueprint on how to live our best life based on current societal norms. In reality however, we, just like our ancestors in biblical times, are committing the same sins over, and over again.

Some of our mistakes and life choices/patterns are generational and unknowingly inherited from our forefathers in the past. In the Bible, God states that they overcame by the blood of the Lamb (i.e., the death of Jesus Christ) and their testimonies (Revelation 12:11). Those who came before us must honestly share testimonies of their life choices, both positive and negative, to prevent future generations from repeating their mistakes and descending the same sinful path.

In the verses above, we observe that after Joshua and the leaders who followed him passed away, this new generation did not know God. Why is that? One can surmise that their parents, while they were still alive, did not share testimonies of their slavery, the wilderness journey and how God brought them eventually through to the Promise Land. If the parents and grandparents shared their mistakes and rebellion and the reasons why they had to wander in the dessert for forty years, this could have aided the future generation in making better choices as they moved forward. This principle applies to us today as well. Many of the bad decisions we have made in the past can be perpetuated with our children because we do not share our life’s journey and the sinful mistakes we have committed.

A crucial reminder for all of us should be that we are not exceptional or superior compared to prior generations or the future generations that will come after us. We need to share the positive as well as the negative decisions we have made and what we have learned from those experiences. We must strive to live life making choices based on biblical principles, as God’s word serves as the sole blueprint for living our best lives. Of course, there will be times when we choose to share our testimonies, and the younger generation may refuse to hear us. In such cases, we must pray that they will eventually listen and turn away from the the dangerous path they are on.

As we progress through life, let us make decisions not based on societal norms but rather on the divine principles outlined in the Bible. Furthermore, let us share our testimonies and life experiences with others, particularly our children. By doing so, we can encourage them to make more sound choices, recognizing that their decisions can have a profound impact on future generations.

Blessings,

Angélique

To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com