“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5, NIV 1984).
My Musings – Moses provided Joshua with an incredible spiritual heritage (qualities and traditions passed down from previous generations). But it was not an inheritance (possession, conditions or traits acquired from a previous generation). Joshua could mimic certain qualities and carry on many of the traditions of Moses, but he did not automatically inherit the relationship that Moses had with God. He had to enter into his own relationship.
So it is with us. My mom lives and my dad lived for the Lord. I grew up in the shadow of their beliefs. And I could live my life in much the same way as they did without the relationship. But there came a time when their beliefs had to become my beliefs. Not because I inherited them from them. I had to enter into my own relationship with God through is Son, Jesus Christ, which I did. And I learned as I grew in that relationship, that just as God had been with them, so He was with me.
There have been times in my life when I’ve drifted away and “forsaken my first love,” but never has He left me or forsaken me. Christianity had to become more than my heritage, more than qualities and traditions passed down from my parents. It had to become who I am. The religion had to become a relationship. A personal relationship that was acquired through my own encounter with Christ, not inherited from my parents as a consequence of their encounter with Christ.
And so the “circle of life” in Christ goes on. Just as my parents could only pass along a spiritual heritage, not a spiritual inheritance, that is all my wife and I could do for our son. For the circle of life to continue, He had to have His own encounter with Christ, which I am glad to say He did.
My Advice – The question each generation must answer is “will the circle be unbroken?” It may be your heritage, only you can make it your inheritance. Accept Christ today. Don’t break the circle.
Will the Circle Be Unbroken?
One by one their seats [are being] emptied.
One by one [they’re going] away.
Now the family is [being] parted.
Will it be complete [again] one day?
- There are loved ones [now] in glory,
- Other dear [ones may join them when it’s time].
- When [we] close [our] earthly story,
- Will [we] join them [by and by]?
- Will the circle be unbroken
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- By and by [Lord], by and by?
- A better home [can be] awaiting [us]
- In the sky [Lord], in the sky?
- By Ada R. Habershon and Charles H. Gabriel.
