“As I’ve mentioned before,” Stan began, “I love the Book of Proverbs. It has so much to say about wisdom and how to live the life I have been given.”
Continuing, he added, “Earlier this morning I was reading a couple of verses that clearly reflect something that happened in my life at one point.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“It’s about coming to see where I was and not liking what I saw,” Stan replied.
“In what way?”
“While the specific verses in Proverbs I was looking at concern looking at someone else, there’s a verse in there that concerns looking at myself, thinking about what I see, and making needed changes.”
“And you did that?” I asked.
“Sure did,” Stan replied. “While I don’t know for certain about my ancestors who lived a long time ago, I definitely consider myself a ‘first-generation Christian’ in the sense that I looked at where I was, a long distance from God, didn’t like what I saw, and came to know there was a different path available to me.”
“A different path available,” I repeated. “And you chose that?”
“I did,” Stan replied. “I came to the point of wanting to start a new generation, a new ancestral line, if you will, that departed from what had been to what could and can be by going in a new direction.”
“A new direction?” I replied.
“Yes,” Stan said, “changing from the direction of walking on my own apart from God, to walking toward and with Him. Changing from a heritage that did not include God to one that embraces Him and all He has for me.”
“So,” I replied, “kind of like breaking the mold, making a new one, and starting over.”
“Exactly,” Stan responded. “From looking at where I was and where I was going with the heredity I was born with, to a new direction resulting from a new birth.”
Concluding, he added, “No reason to be stuck with something just because that’s the way it has been.”
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When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction. Proverbs 24:32.
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for showing me the opportunity to break the mold of what I had been so I can accept and embrace all you have for me on both sides of eternity. I pray for those who are locked in a heredity that does not include you. Please, Father, move in each one of them to break the mold of unbelief. Use me in whatever way you want to help with that. Thank you for wanting to use me. May I always be available to you. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Were you raised with a heredity of faith in a family that encouraged a close walk with God? If so, have you followed that heredity by making it your own? Why or why not? If you were not raised in a heredity of faith, but have chosen to break the mold of where you were, has that been difficult? If so, in what ways? If you have broken that mold, are there ways for you to encourage others to do the same thing? Is that something you want to do? Why or why not? If so, do you know how to do it?
Waiting for the Train 