It was Thanksgiving Day, 2011, and the family had gathered at my house for a great feast. My dad made an announcement: “the cancer has spread throughout my body and I only have at the most a few months to live.” Everyone was devastated. We took lots of pictures that day… everyone got an individual picture with dad, grandpa. A few days later, my mom called to say that my dad wasn’t doing well and needed to go to the hospital. I said, “I’ll be there in a few minutes.” My dad was still giving me directions as I approached the hospital… “Make sure to go into the first entrance because that’s the Emergency entrance.” I still laugh at that. I remember standing at his dying bedside and telling him how thankful I am that he passed his faith onto me.
My dad did not grow up in a Christian home, but my mom’s quiet faith led him to give his life over to Christ. I was little, but I do know that his newfound life in Christ changed the dynamics of our family. Throughout his life, his faith never wavered. What a great legacy he passed on to me. Paul mentions to his friend, protégé, and young pastor, Timothy, that his grandmother and mother passed their faith onto him. He said, “I see it in you.” Imagine being in a congregation where the pastor’s faith was evident in everything he did. Something tells me that this church thrived.
Let me tell you… there is NOT a greater legacy you can pass on to your children, grandchildren, friends, and others than an unwavering faith. A faith that trusts and believes in the sovereign rule of God in your life. A faith that does not worry or fret because you know God has it all in control and what He says goes. A faith that always points to Jesus. A faith that others can see. You may be thinking, though… “Well, I don’t have a legacy of faith passed to me.” If that’s your story, then… “You be the first link in the chain.” Let it start with you.
Here's the thing… faith isn’t passed to us strong and vibrant. It needs to be cultivated. Most likely, it starts as a small mustard seed, but that tiny seed has the potential to become big and strong. Faith is cultivated by a relationship with Jesus. The more time we spend getting to know Him, sitting at His feet, listening to Him, and aligning ourselves with His Word, the more that faith will grow. Trust me… a strong faith is a valuable gift you can pass on. And it may not show up in our loved ones until later in life, but trust God that He will burst it wide open one day. Let’s cultivate our faith so that it is passed on down. Be that first, second, or third link in the chain.