"For Future Generations"

When I was young, I had little interest in my ancestors.  That has
changed as I've gotten older.  I sometimes scour the Internet
searching for tidbits of information about any of a number of people
listed on my family tree.  When I discover that a great grandfather,
for example, served in the Civil War, or that my grandfather's brother
attended medical school in Louisville, I get excited.  I often find
myself wishing that more details had been preserved for future
generations.

That wish helps to explain why I have spent time in recent years
digitizing photos and documents.  I have already worn out one scanner
and will probably go through another one or two in the years ahead.
Family photographs that are beginning to yellow are now in digital
form, safe from the effects of light, heat and humidity.  Soon I'll be
turning my attention to those old Super-8 home movie reels.

Many government bodies have realized the same need to archive for the
future.  Volumes of marriage and real estate records have been lost
forever as court houses have succumbed to fires and floods.  Digital
records have been made of old volumes that survive, and backup copies
are stored in multiple locations.  Future generations will have access
to that information.

The apostle John knew that future generations would need to know about
Jesus Christ.  He had been privileged to see Jesus' work in person,
but his life span was limited.  That's why he was led (by the Holy
Spirit, 2 Peter 1:20,21) to record some of his memories of Jesus.  He
elaborated in John 20:30,31: "And truly Jesus did many other signs in
the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but
these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the
Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."

No, you and I were not present when Jesus walked on the Sea of
Galilee.  We didn't witness His healing of the blind or the lame, nor
did we hear Him command Lazarus to come forth from the tomb.  But
thanks to the archives God arranged, we have easy access to such
information.  And our faith in Jesus can grow when we read those
archives (see Romans 10:17).

Paul did not know the date of the Lord's second coming to this earth;
no one is privy to that information (Matthew 24:36).  But the apostle
was determined to supply needed guidance for future generations.  He
wrote, for example, about why we must observe the Lord's Supper and
how it should be done.  He then added this statement: "For as often as
you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death
till He comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26). 

"Till He comes" might be this afternoon, or it might be 2,000 years
from now.  It doesn't matter, for we have been given all the
instruction we need to live godly and righteous lives (2 Peter 1:3).

This Book, the Bible, is God's archives for any who desire to live the
abundant life and ultimately reach heaven.  The pages of my personal
Bible may yellow and tear with age.  God will see to it that
generations yet unborn (if there be such) will be able to know the
truth.  It is just as Isaiah declared long ago: "The grass withers,
the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah
40:8).

Come to the light God offers!  Study His word, the Bible.  Worship Him
in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  Get in touch with us if you'd like
to discuss these ideas further.