Passing the Torch - The Importance of Forefathers

2 Timothy 1:3a
{3} I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, …

In the post-modern age the title of “forefather” often does not raise much enthusiasm in a culture that is steeped in youth and youthful thought. Those who have gone on before are often dismissed as irrelevant and passé for current times. Sadly, many generations believe that they are more enlightened or have the ability to achieve greater things than the generation before them.


The Apostle Paul here mentions forefathers referring to those who had gone on before him. Strange, but here Paul, our forefather, talks about his own forefathers. Just like Paul, we have forefathers but the reality is that all of us are forefathers to those who will come behind us. What does it take to be a good forefather?


To be a good forefather you have to be intimately connected to your heritage. History is not just for the academic exercise of intellectual advancement. It is through the study of history that we learn of the successes and failures of those in the past. There is far more present here than just a simple academic story. There is a place of honor given those of the past who contributed to the blessings of the present. Being of Jewish nationality, Paul knew well the stories which surrounded his own national and spiritual heritage. He knew of the valor of David's victories and the confessions of David’s sin. He was familiar with the honor of people like Daniel who faced a den of lions because he refused to stop praying to his Lord. I believe there was a certain sense of pride and reverence for such heroes in the heart of Paul. Christians also have a rich history of many saints who sacrificed much for the enrichment of the present church.


To be a good forefather you have to serve in the same manner in which your forefathers did. Paul mentions that he serves with a clear conscience. Could it be that he was attempting to live up to the standards of his own forefathers? I wonder if when Paul preached he thought of some of the Old Testament prophets as his mentors. To have a passion like Jeremiah or a forthrightness like Elijah would have served him well as missionary evangelist of the first century church. Many of the role models of the past translate very well as role models of the present. What would the Christian world be like if we had another Spurgeon or another Luther?


To be a good forefather you have realize your obligation to those who will come behind you. Throughout 2 Timothy there is the consistent call for Timothy to pass on the torch for the next generation. The church that places an emphasis on the next generation to come will not become a bygone museum in the days to come. In the patriotic hymn, America the Beautiful, a line states, “O beautiful for patriot’s dream that sees beyond the years.” Imagine the impact all of us could have if we viewed our faith as something that is to last beyond our own existence in a meaningful way.


PRAYER
Lord let me have a grateful heart for my forefathers who often paid a great price for the blessings I now enjoy. Make me aware that in my present place of ministry that I am leaving a legacy for those who will come after me. Impress upon me a desire to be a blessing to generations of the future. In Jesus name, Amen.