one generation

 "Now that whole generation,

the generation that had walked with Moses—

the generation that saw the walls of Jericho fall—

that generation passed on,

and another generation grew up after them,

a generation that did not know the Eternal

and had not seen the great works He had done for Israel."

Judges 2:10

One generation. That's all it took for the people of Israel to turn away from God. That's all it took for them to forget all that God had done in the past and to turn to other things to worship. In Judges we're told that the people abandoned God.

We live in a time and a society that is constantly saying to God, "...but what have You done for me lately?"

A smooth path was laid out in front of us here in the United States. In the grand scheme of things, historically we really haven't had to face the struggles and issues that people around the world have faced and continue to face on a daily basis. That's not to say that our path has been without potholes--there are lots of ugly marks on the face of U.S. history, times of hatred and fear and ignorance--but compared to what many countries have faced, we've been blessed.

But it hasn't taken us long to forget all God has done for us and turn our time, attention, and worship to other things. We chase after fame and fortune, determined to make a name for ourselves, convinced that we know what's best and how to be accomplished in life. We strive to do all the good things, to make a difference in the world, to be good people.

Through that, though, we forget the most important thing. Like the church in Ephesus, we have forgotten what--Who--is truly important.

"However, I have this against you: you have abandoned your first love."

Revelation 2:4

We've gotten so wrapped up in the "doing good" part that it has become what we worship.

But here's the thing--without God, the "doing good" part doesn't matter. You see, God is the foundation on which all things "good" have to stand, or else they will crumble into the dirt.

So let's not be the generation that forgets everything God has done. Let's remember all the times He has been our shelter and our refuge, all the times He has straightened out crooked paths or kept us moving forward when we couldn't see the path.

"These are the people who chase after Him;
 [like Jacob, they look for the face of God]."

Psalm 24:6

Only then can we truly make a difference. Only then will we truly be able to live out the directive that Jesus gave in the Sermon on the Mount:

 

"This is what our Scriptures come to teach:

in everything, in every circumstance,

do to others as you would have them do to you."

Matthew 7:12