Heritage
Read Your Bible. Know What You Believe. Fulfill Your Ministry.
What are you leaving behind? A heritage is the sum of the material goods and spiritual blessings passed from one generation to the next. From the days of the patriarchs—Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the act of a father blessing his children was a pivotal moment of transition. It wasn’t just a goodbye; it was a legal and spiritual investment in the future.
When our parents passed away, they left us kids some material things, but mainly they left us a heritage of greater value than anything material. From birth, we were instructed in how much God loved us. Both parents taught us not only in words but also in action. Did they have flaws? Of course they did; however, their obedience to God was expressed in both faith and action. When they failed, they would repent and teach us that God’s love is not conditional.
Heritage is a vital need in our lives. If we do not know where we have come from, it is hard to know where we are heading. And yet, even with my heritage, I still wandered far from my roots. Our heritage is not only passed down by our parents but also by others we meet who teach us that we are of worth. I am no longer a young man in my thirties or forties, but rather approaching my seventies. As I look back, I’ve found that God was always there. I can plainly see that misfortunes—which at the time were hard lessons—were sent by God to draw me close. Yes, hindsight is 20/20.
Judges 2:10 (NLT)
Israel Disobeys the Lord
10 After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.
When I was in grade school, we started every morning by saying the Pledge of Allegiance while standing by our desks with our hands over our hearts. After the pledge, we sang “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee.” I believe that by the time I was in sixth grade, we no longer followed this routine.
Today, I hear that we as Americans should be ashamed of our heritage—that the history of America is a dark and unpleasant time, and that there is nothing great about our lineage. I guess I should be angry about what people are saying, but mostly I am just sad. I believe the children who attended school after me were immediately at a disadvantage because they did not start their days by recognizing their heritage.
But what saddens me much more is that we have not faithfully taught our children about our Christian heritage. We have reached such a state of apostasy that I once met a woman in her 20s who did not even know what a church was. That is not her fault. For too long, Christians have not displayed a Christian lifestyle. We don’t pray in restaurants anymore because we don’t want to offend others. Even sadder, if we do pray and others notice, but then we yell at the waitress during the meal, we show others that the prayer was only for show.
One day while I was preaching, I made reference to Jonah. I saw in the faces of the congregation that I had mentioned someone they didn’t even know. It was not their fault; it was a failure of the generation, or even generations, that came before them.
Now, before everyone takes me to task for being blunt: Yes! I know the audience reading this probably did not fail in teaching their kids. But what about their friends? It is not because no one passed on the heritage, but rather that not enough did. We passed that responsibility to Sunday school teachers and pastors. We gave these wonderful people two hours a week to make sure our children learned about God and all that “church stuff.”
So what do we do now? Again, I know most of my audience has been faithful and has not only taught our heritage but has lived it. This verse from the book of Judges is perhaps one of the most tragic in the Bible. We do not have the right to shrug and say it was just something that happened. We must take ownership. Starting today, we should make sure our heritage as Christians is taught to everyone we meet.
“Our heritage is not a museum piece to be stored away; it is a living legacy that requires our active participation. We cannot change the silence of the past, but we can determine the voice of the future. Let us commit to being the bridge that carries the truth of God’s love and the richness of our history to the next generation, ensuring that they, too, may know the ‘mighty things He has done.’”
The Simple Plan of salvation
The simple plan of salvation is based on accepting Jesus Christ to receive forgiveness and eternal life. It involves admitting you are a sinner, believing Jesus died for your sins and rose again, and confessing Him as Lord. Key steps include faith in Jesus’ sacrifice, repentance, and prayer.
Key Aspects of the Plan of Salvation:
Acknowledge Need: Recognize that you are a sinner in need of salvation (Romans 3:23).
Understand Sin’s Penalty: Realize that sin separates you from God and results in spiritual death.
Believe in Jesus: Believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead
.Confess and Receive: Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and ask Him to forgive your sins.
Repentance: Turn away from sin and toward God.
A Simple Prayer of Salvation:
“Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I believe that You died on the cross and paid the penalty for my sin. I believe that You rose from the dead. I am placing my faith in You alone to forgive my sin and save me. Thank you for giving me eternal life. In Jesus’ name, AMEN”.
This plan emphasizes that salvation is a gift of God’s grace, not earned through good works.