Genesis 24:7
“The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.”
One of the things that made Abraham so great was that he did not live for the present, but he lived to be sure he prepared the way for the next generation. He not only served his own generation, but he also served the next generation. He understood that if truth was going to continue on, then he had to be sure he prepared the way for the next generation to live right.
You see in the verse above that Abraham was concerned with whom his son married. When he sent his servant to find a wife for his son, he made it clear that he was not to bring back a woman who would cause his son to go back from where he came. This servant was to bring back a woman who would follow Isaac as he went forward in God’s will. This action was an example of preparing the way for the next generation to serve God.
What truly separates greatness from average is that greatness lives their life in such a manner so that the next generation has no excuse to compromise. Greatness will not only serve their own generation, but they will serve the next generation. When you look at the forefathers of America, you see men who served their own generation and generations to come. When you look at great men of God, you see men who served their own generation and generations to come. Greatness prepares the way for the next generation to continue to do right.
If you are going to prepare the way for the next generation, then you must not point them to the world, but to God’s will. Abraham did not want Isaac to go back to where they came from; instead, he wanted him to go forward in God’s will. You must live your life so that the next generation will not want to go back to the world.
Moreover, if you are going to prepare the way, then you must be sure your associations are right. Abraham didn’t want his son to be yoked up with anyone who would cause him to go back to the world. Friend, you may be able to handle your weak associations, but the next generation will think the weak associations are good ones. If you are going to prepare the way, then you must be sure your associations are such that they will not pull them down but will push them up.
Furthermore, if you are going to prepare the way for next generation, you must remind them of the old paths. In the verse above, Abraham reminded the servant of God’s commands to him. Friend, you must not change how you live to match the current culture. You must live your life to match God’s lifestyle. Preparing the way only comes by continually conforming your life into the will and image of God.
Are you preparing the way for the next generation to serve the LORD? It doesn’t matter if you lead one person or a thousand people, your responsibility is to be sure the next generation clearly sees the right way to live. Look at your life and see if you are making the life of Christ clear to them. Be sure your associations are such that they will not cast confusion on future generations. Make it clear with your direction, associations and life the right manner of life the LORD would have them live.