"Pastor, our children are leaving the church. They don't seem to discover the value of the gospel, and it breaks our hearts. What should we as the older generation restore?"
This is an earnest question from many parents and church leaders today. However, the Bible already shows us the answer in the blessing that Caleb received.
In the wilderness before Canaan, Moses spoke to the new generation about Caleb's blessing. To a generation that did not know the suffering of Egypt, yet had to live by Christ alone - a generation just like our young people today. We can discover three things we must restore in Caleb's blessing.
First, we must restore the spiritual vision to 'see the good land.'
When other spies saw giants and fortified cities and were afraid, Caleb saw the land where God goes before them. One reason our young people leave the church today is because we, the older generation, show them only negative attitudes by focusing on problems and difficulties. The world evangelization is already completed from God's perspective. We must first see God's plan and hope, and pass that vision on to the next generation.
Second, we must restore the life of 'experiencing through faith.'
Caleb received the blessing to step on that land. For people with faith, the answer is seen in advance. We don't believe because we experience, but we experience through faith. Our young people want to see genuine faith from the older generation. We must show them the living God through praising even when things don't make sense, and worshiping even in difficulties. Our very lives must become evidence of the gospel.
Third, we must restore the mission of 'raising the next generation.'
Just as God gave blessings to Caleb and his descendants, while our lives are temporary, God's plan is eternal. God will save the world through the next generation. Young people who are imprinted with the gospel from childhood will make thousands from the small and strong nations from the weak. We should not simply force them to come to church, but help 'Christ alone' be imprinted in their souls, minds, and subconsciousness.
The young people leaving the church is not their problem. It's because we, the older generation, have lost the faith like Caleb's. The blessing Caleb received is the very blessing we have received. There is a reason God has placed us in this position. We must first be restored and live lives that show the true value of the gospel to the next generation. Then a generation greater and stronger than us will be raised to be used in saving the future.