The third generation sells the farm is just another way of saying that no movement or empire lasts forever. We rejoice at what God did in establishing our Fellowship. But what will we do when the fathers of our faith are all in Heaven with Jesus? Will we carry on doing what we have always done? Will we get tired of doing the same things over and over? Will God want to do something new that we have not even thought of?
It is natural to think that things will never change and that life will go on forever. We do not like to think about the end of things. I have lived long enough to see some things end. My wife of 40 years died. My beloved pastor died. Men that I knew and respected either died or left. There is very little left of what I thought would last forever.
I think that one thing we can do is to plan for change and prepare for the end. In our personal lives that might mean making a will and a plan for where you want to be buried. In our churches it might mean having a plan of succession so that your church counsel knows what do do when you are gone. Pastor Wayman did that in Prescott.
When I was first saved I was sure that I would live to see the Rapture. I know a lot of good people who lived with that same hope and expectation. They are all gone now. But we are still here.
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
Unfortunately the New Testament was written by men who thought that they would live forever. It does not give us guidelines on how to deal with the death of our pastors. Jesus died and rose from the dead so that is no help. He was only gone for three days! When we die our time on Earth is over for good.
One final word. Are you trying to build a legacy so that people will remember you after you are gone? Can I tell you a secret? People will forget. Great nations, great empires, great men, and great churches are all gone and forgotten.
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