“And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants.” Genesis 28:13 NKJV
The spiritual life or spiritual journey we go through is not a journey we have to travel alone. This journey is a collective and ongoing journey towards a “promised land”. Meaning that this journey has been started by generations before us. We are walking in it now, and it will be continued by generations after us. Every generation must walk together.
The faith of Abraham didn’t end when he died, but it was continued by Isaac, his son, so God called Himself the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac. God called Abraham because He has a great plan for His chosen people. God’s plan is so great that it goes beyond the people who walk in His plan. God needs His chosen people in each generation so that His plan can work out well. It takes people who are obedient to God and follow the guidance from the previous generation. Isaac’s life purpose couldn’t deviate from the life purpose of Abraham. The God who called Abraham is the same God who called Isaac.
God is an intergenerational God because human’s life is limited on earth. Therefore, we know that faith is an intergenerational inheritance. A generation (a person) must have a personal relationship and experience with God. And when it is time to leave this earth and enter into eternity, the generation or the person must leave the same faith, the same purpose, and the same value to the next generation. The faith of the person or the generation must become a spiritual inheritance that is solid, valuable and leads to God’s great purpose.
Jesus taught His disciples when He was sowing the seeds or the values of the kingdom of God. His purpose was so that His disciples had the same life, faith, and purpose like Him. That’s the inheritance that must be passed on to the next generation later on. The second generation must learn to catch and understand that faith, practice it and teach it to the third generation so they can have the same faith. The God of Abraham must become the God of Isaac and then the God of Jacob.
Faith in Christ that is carried on from one generation to the next generation must make the next generation better. It means to understand more than the inheritance is very valuable for the salvation of mankind and be willing to spread it more. Biological or spiritual parents have important roles in teaching spiritual things (faith) to their children. A child that is trained well will have a solid faith to walk his life and to help others.
God always has a greater purpose for everything that happens in our lives. Continue to walk with Him and be faithful until the end. God bless.
Source: GBI Gatot Subroto, Jakarta Bulletin