In One Generation's
Time
by Bill Jackson
Some
very wise men in the kingdom have been known to state that we are always just
one generation from apostasy. In seeing
the growth of harmful trends in these last several years, we are convinced that
a full generation is not needed! But let
us focus on what can occur in one generation's time, and Judges
“And also all
that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and
there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the
works which he had done for
This, in one generation's
time! Our Lord had made it so plain, in John 6:45:
It is written in the
prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath
heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”
We see the emphasis we are
making now in the wording of the Great Commission, recorded by Matthew: "Go ye therefore, and teach ... teaching them"
(Matthew 28:19-20). A shift away from the study of, and teaching
of, the Word of God is the opening of the door and a begging for apostasy. That lesson has been well demonstrated in
We
can see deviation at work in one generation's time in what we read of the work
in
1. Paul
had visited there, and caused some to take their place faithfully in Christ. Not every city or community in the New
Testament era had an apostle to visit them early in their work, but
2. Late
in his missionary work, Paul called the Ephesian elders to meet him at
3. The
apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Ephesian congregation, with that special
emphasis on Christ, Head of the church; the giving of God's foreordained will
for the saving of men; the Word of truth as the instrument of salvation, and
the great unity the Spirit teaches, with the need to loyally maintain and keep
it! Not every New Testament congregation had a letter sent to them from an
inspired apostle, but
So,
those benefits: Paul's physically being with them,
Paul's meeting with the leadership for special teaching and warning, and Paul's
great lessons to them in his letter sent them. What benefits and blessings were given to
In less than a generation's
time, we see
"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first
love" (Revelation 2:4). Against the blessings and benefits earlier
received by