A Bird's Eye View

The older I get, the more I use idiomatic expressions.  Consequently, it becomes an opportunity to have a discussion explaining the meaning.  I feel that my generation actually has lived using these expressions but somehow, they have become extinct. 
 
The general meaning of “a bird’s eye view” is seeing things from a view high above.  This idiom originated from about the 1600’s.  Just think of the view that a bird has, up high, unobscured, able to view for great distances.  This enables the bird to see from a panoramic view…getting a big picture of where they are flying.  In contrast to this view and not an idiom that I have not heard before is the worm’s view. As you can well imagine, the view is completely opposite.  The view of an object is from below, whatever a worm could see in their limit realm of the immediate.  I don’t even know if worms can see but you get the picture, limited view and certainly obscured. 
 
In looking at these two creatures, which view do you believe we have?  I fall on the side of the worm.  I have a limited view, which is clouded by my own “dirt” and I inch along slowly, close to the ground.  No wonder I “stumble, get lost, go around in circles” and feel like I make no progress.  Oh, how I wish I could have a bird’s view of life. But really, is the bird’s eye view enough?
 
The view I wish I had is one of understanding the past, a panoramic view of the present with just a glimpse down over the valley, through the woods, to the mountaintop so to speak. This vast view reiterates my need for following and listening to God for direction in my life.  His view is a Heavenly view, with kingdom purpose.  His view is not confined to time or space but is multi-dimensional.  God can see (and knows) past, present and future because He has been there!  Not only can God see the span of my life and yours but for generations past, present and the generation to come after us.
 
My mind has been on generations this week since we have recently spent time with our children and grandchildren.  Three generations together, sharing space and time. If one were to ponder on it very long, one would come to the conclusion that life is a short span, replaced by our children who will be replaced by their children and so forth.  Even at our age, we let our children make more decisions and we are along for the “ride” with them.  In some sense it feels like freedom from responsibility to allow them to direct what our family events look like.  But Darrell and I must not “throw in the towel” to what impact or effects we can continue to have on our children, their children and future generations.  As long as we breathe, we can impact generations to come by encouraging them in truth only found in God’s word and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
 
What does it mean to be generational minded in our time and space in which we exist and how does it impact His purposes?  Let’s take a quick walk through scripture to see some references on “generations”.
 
Genesis 17:7 God establishes his covenant with Abraham and states: And I will establish My covenant between you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.
 
Exodus 3:15 Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel; ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.  Note that this verse starts with father Abraham moving to his son Isaac and on to his son Jacob.
 
Leviticus 23:43….that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I bought them out of the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.
 
2 Kings 10:30 The Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in executing what is right in My eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in My heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.”
 
Esther 9:28 …that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province and every city, that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among Jews, and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants.
 
Psalms 22:30 A posterity shall serve Him.  It will be recounted to the Lord to the next generation.
 
Psalm 49:11 Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, Their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
 
Psalm 78:4 We will not hide them from their children; telling to the generations to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.
 
Joel 1:3 The word of the Lord came to Joel about the devastation of the locust. “Tell your children about it, and let your children tell their children, and their children the next generation. “
 
Apostle Paul’s exhortation to the church and believers in Ephesians 3: 14-20 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
 In these few passages from the Old Testament through the New Testament, we see the intentionality of God towards generations.  It’s not just about us but who follows us.  Believe it or not, we can change the course of previous generations that may have chosen not to follow God and live a life that passes the Gospel message.  God’s desire has been for all generations to know Him and for the knowledge of God to be passed on from generation to generation. In scripture we see the encouragement to tell the next generation of God, history, Jesus Christ, the love from our heavenly Father, salvation through Christ and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
 
God’s view is higher than the bird’s eye view.  He holds all history, is with us in the midst of our current happenings which will soon be history and He knows where all of this is going.  Not only did He care, provided for and lead those that went before us but He continues to care for us through to the next generations and on. By now, you might be feeling insignificant but that is far from the truth.  While we might not have knowledge of previous generations, we have the opportunity for future generations to know God, being involved in God’s Kingdom purposes and salvation through Jesus Christ.
 
Let us not be like Judges 2:7-12 7 And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel. 8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 years. 9 And they buried him within the boundaries of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. 10 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.
 
 I had an initial intent to speak to the passing of a Christian heritage onto our children and grandchildren however, I want to broaden out to another sphere of people.  I was raised in a Christian home but it was not in the home that I accepted Christ.  I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior during Vacation Bible School.  There were many people such as Sunday school teachers, pastors, youth group leaders, music directors, GA leaders, bible study leaders and lay people in the church that sowed the Word of God into my life and were significant people in my acceptance of Jesus Christ.  So for everyone, God provides opportunities in the church, community, stores, at ballgames or wherever for us to impact a generation not only in this time and space but for generations to come.  We may never know how God has used our witness in the life of other.  We may have the opportunity to lead to the Lord the next Billy Graham type evangelist, the next apologist that will boldly defend the gospel, the next incredible bible study author that will take people deep into God’s word, the next Christian vocal artist that proclaims freedom in Christ through song.  You just never know how, in this generation, you may impact the generations to come for the Kingdom of God. 
 
Be led of God and spread His love and good news.
 
Blessings,
Karen