Building for future generations

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3: 12 - 14 

Pictures of cathedrals always inspire me with a deep sense of awe.  Medieval craftsmen with nothing more than wooden scaffolding, wheelbarrows, hammers, chisels and other hand tools but with a huge workforce built the most magnificent places of worship – for the glory of God.

Wells Cathedral

Centuries later they still glorify God because of their beautiful architecture and amazing detail. Everywhere you look, every window, column, pillar, tower, façade and turret have all been carved with painstaking features to beautify an already beautiful building.  Some of these amazing details are never seen by anyone except architects and stonemasons up on the roof or in some other inaccessible place.

Lincoln Cathedral

Truly these cathedral builders had vision, passion and perseverance. Cathedrals generally took about 50 years to build though some took centuries. The construction would almost certainly not be completed in one man’s lifetime.  Cathedral builders knew that what they started, someone else would finish.  They never saw their completed masterpieces. I doubt they had any idea that centuries later people would still flock to admire and wonder over these marvellous buildings even if the original purpose of worship has been overwhelmed by tourists.

This sense of building something that others may finish has almost been lost in 21^st century life. At an architectural level, with our ability to build just about anything in a few years, everyone expects to finish a project unless sudden illness or accident overtakes them.

But what of projects that are not architectural? Do we have a longer-term vision for our lives and ministries that lasts beyond our lifetime? Bill Johnson is building a 100 year vision for Bethel Church. God gave David a vision and an unconditional promise of a dynasty that would last forever.

Jesus lived an incredibly short life yet his vision had eternity in mind and he knew that when he breathed his last, the door of heaven would be opened to anyone who accepted his free offer of eternal life. We may have accepted that offer but do our lives have a long-term aim? Or does our vision end when we die?

God spoke to our family 20 years ago that he was building a ‘house’, a family line that would outlast our lives. I realised that on both sides of our family, God had been at work for years before we came into the world and hopefully God will continue to work in our family for years after we have gone to glory. Our part is to invest as much as we can into the next generations.

However my vision is not just for our immediate family. I want to sow as much good seed as possible into the lives of others; Christian and others. I don’t think we realise the effect we have on the lives of others.  I want to try and make mine as beneficial and positive as possible. I want to know that when I die, I have handed on some batons for others to run with and sown some seed that will be bearing fruit in other’s lives for years to come.

Salisbury Cathedral

Our lives are far more significant than we imagine. We don’t need to have a platform ministry or important careers to be significant. We are significant because of who we are. We need to lift our eyes from the mundane, everyday humdrum of life and see the bigger picture. We have an inheritance to pass on that is far bigger than money or possessions and far more meaningful than a few memories or photos.

Let’s encourage one another to invest in a future that goes beyond our life and times and have in mind that we may not ever see the full outworking of that investment this side of eternity. Nevertheless, like the cathedral builders of old, we may find that we have built something that future generations can benefit from long after we have gone. 

Cynicism is not a fruit of the Holy Spirit

Live as children of the light (for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.  Ephesians 5: 8 – 10

On the eve of what we are promised will be the closest General Election result in years, I woke with the song I’d like to teach the world to sing on my mind. I have had this experience before when I awake with a random song going round my head. It usually means God wants to draw my attention to something.

I duly looked up the song on YouTube and was reminded it was by the New Seekers from 1972. I can only say I was shocked by the naivety and innocence of the song and singers. I was then even more shocked by my cynical reaction to it. I thought that if this was shown on any media other than an historical / retro / do you remember? item it would be laughed off the screen.

Cynicism is most definitely not a fruit of the Holy Spirit nor is its mate scepticism yet these attitudes are so prevalent in society, especially British society, today. Cynicism is ‘an inclination to question whether something will happen or whether it is worthwhile.’  Scepticism doubts the truth of something. Nowhere is this more prevalent than with attitudes to politics and politicians.

Cynicism and scepticism say there is no point in voting; all politicians are untrustworthy and only in it for themselves. This is first of all unfair to many hard working men and women and secondly, washing our hands of the political system is a huge abdication of responsibility.

As Christians we need to be doing all we can to influence that system and make our voice heard in Westminster.  That starts with voting.  We need to vote into parliament men and women of integrity who will be doing God's will in this nation, even if they do not realise it.  I am not sure Cyrus, king of the Persians, realised he was God's anointed but he certainly did God's will in expediting the Jews return from exile (Isaiah 45:1).

Prayer, letter writing, lobbying, marching or even standing for local or national elections are all vital roles for the Christian today. However, on the eve of the election, our most important role today is not to let cynicism and scepticism of the political system silence us but to get out and vote. Authorities are placed over us by God himself (Romans 13: 1) but we can and should have a say in who they are.

Our vote may seem small and insignificant but it does count. It may make all the difference.