One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendour of your majesty and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
Psalm 145 .4-7
How did you come to know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour? At one very important level it was because the message of the gospel has been passed on from one generation to another. As the writer to the Hebrews tells us in chapter 1 v.1-2 this was through the prophets at many times and in various ways and in the last days he has spoken to us by his Son.
We have the written word, inspired by the Spirit, and recorded for us by many authors; translated into a multitude of languages and available to us today. This is because previous generations were so enthralled by the splendour of God’s majesty and the might of his awesome deeds, especially the working out of the great plan of redemption through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, that they passed it on to us.
This truth should generate at least three responses from us
A desire to commend and pass on the truths that have changed us
A desire to meditate on these wondrous works
A desire to pour forth the fame of God’s abundant goodness.
It is a truism that we live in a world that has little or no time for God and without him it is a world without hope and meaning. We may feel powerless in such a situation and withdraw into a private world which seems safe and unthreatening while what is needed and is outlined in these verses, is a massive generational witness to the glory of our great God.
It is arguable that we need this today like never before as the western world has lost its spiritual and moral moorings so we need to hear David’s words and act on them, individually and corporately in order that our generation and the one that follows us might respond and pick up the baton and pass it on.
What holds us back? The answer should be ‘nothing’ for God does not change. Therefore we must ask the pointed questions ‘Do we believe God’s word?’ and ‘Are we being obedient?’