generations

It has long been observed that family businesses rarely survive the third generation. One multi-national company I'm well acquainted with followed that pattern very closely. The founder was one who liked the work, liked to innovate but most of all enjoyed the product. It was his great fortune to create what many others around the world appreciated enough to pay top dollar to own. His fortune was a joy to share. The Lord had helped him with his business so he praised God, supported the church universal and humbly served his Lord. Generation One.

His son loved the business, and loved to see it go well. He loved guiding the business to greater heights. His wife loved the fortune with frequent shopping trips to famous expensive locations around the world. She did not like the town or the people in the town where the business was located. She did not like the Lord or his Word. But because that town was the source of their income, she participated in the life of the community, led good works projects and became respected for her philanthropy. Many wanted to emulate her. Many despised her. Generation Two.

The grandchildren hated the discipline of work, grew to see business as a necessary evil to gain the money to establish their lifestyle and finally threw off the pretense of the town. The grandchildren abused their friends and ignored their counselors. Generation Three.

The son (G-Two) was wise enough to know that his children (G-Three) would never pay enough attention to the family business to keep it going well. Thus, the business was sold and the fortune set for the lives of the third generation and their immediate families. The founder (G-One) died knowing his business was gone and his generations did not respect what he loved.

The business? It still exists, the family name exists and many people still buy this product. But the soul of the product is now gone with the founder and his love for that work. Is the product as profitable or respected as it once was? No, but the product still makes a huge profit for the corporation that owns it.

Why do I relate this story?

Because it explains the book of Judges and the rapid degradation of a people. By the time Joshua and those who served with him in the conquest of Canaan grew old and died there were grandchildren to assume control of the nation. "Another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel." Judges 2:10

The third generation syndrome.

Of the nations Joshua left the Lord states "I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their ancestors did." Joshua 2:22

And what did the Lord do? "the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them." Judges 2:18. Leadership through strength and charisma.

And what did the people do? "But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways." Judges 2:19

Billy Graham is our judge. His life is fading and his message is now being ignored. The current president pays token attention to the Word of the Lord. The society openly attacks the clear and simple teaching of the Word. The enemies of the Lord are brutally advancing. The Judge is almost done and our generation will see the oppression of the people.

People of the Word should not be too much surprised by this, though the contemporary world of 2015 would revolt against me should anyone read this analysis. But the daily news reinforces the downward spiral of our moral character. Chaos reigns and those who should be supported to protect the "common man", the police, are under attack for doing their job. People of the Word who apply their faith to their business are sued for being "intolerant". Pastors who speak up for the Word and apply it to politics are investigated and threatened by the IRS. "Christian" denominations now endorse the wholesale exclusion of clear teachings in the Word as being "irrelevant" or "culturally ignorant" or "out of context". Babies have been, for decades, slaughtered in the name of convenience. The Affordable Care Act legislates the President's wishes that grandma gets a pain pill instead of that new hip because she is past her useful years.

Americans do not respect the young or the old. Americans fight the Word. Americans twist the law and the Law to advance the immoral (as outlined in Scripture) desires of the unredeemed flesh.  Our judge will soon be gone and the full fruits of the third generation are about to come to pass.

As a member of Generation Two, my simple expression is "God help us." May Generation Four understand and apply that message too.