Generational Promises

We all come from different backgrounds. Some of our parents surf, some of our parents don’t even like the beach. Likewise, some of our family members are following Jesus strongly, and some of us did not grow up in Christian homes at all. 

My family’s story is a unique one, but I love the story that it paints. Around 50 years ago, my dad was a typical Southern California teenage surfer in the 70s and 80s. I love seeing the photos of my dad’s shoulder-length blonde hair when he was in high school, all of the film photos of him and his friends going down to Baja on surf trips, and hearing stories of how my dad had to run past marines at Camp Pendleton to camp and surf for days at trestles. One day in Huntington Beach, when he was 18, he went to a surf movie night that was put on by a surf ministry group with Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, and he gave his life to the Lord. Fast forward, he got married to my mom (who also surfs) and had me and my brother. I was so fortunate to have been raised close to the ocean, where we constantly had family beach days, did Jr lifeguards, body boarded, and when I was 17, I finally got the surfing bug and haven’t stopped since. But most importantly, my parents raised us to follow Christ, and as adults, my brother and I have both been involved with ministry in various surf communities around the world. Why do I share this story? In Joshua 1:5-6, God says to Joshua:

“5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.”

There was a generational transition of the promise between Moses and Joshua. The work that Moses started, Joshua picked up and continued, and God renewed the promise to stand next to him through it all as they inherited the promise together. The beauty of the Gospel today is that even if you are the first in your family to follow Christ, you are now adopted into a family that has a legacy going back to the beginning of time. When you think of all that God has orchestrated, all of the hurt, pain, disappointment, redemption, sacrifice, grace, and love… all so that you can be adopted into his family and be a part of changing lives. It is a beautiful and wonderful thing that only God can design.

Ephesians 1:4-6 

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved.

Image by: Matthew During