Leaders recognize that their actions have far-reaching ramifications. Nowhere is this more evident than in God’s blessing or cursing.
God hates sin because it robs people of His best. Consequently, God punishes it completely and thoroughly. God seeks its consequences thoroughly unattractive. Perhaps sin’s most heinous consequence is its dire effect on our children and grandchildren. The sin of adultery in one generation can lead to grandchildren being faithless in their marriage in the future. Bondage to anger or pride in one generation can be passed down to descendants. How tragic that our unwillingness to let God deal with our stubbornness or anger or unforgiveness can cause immense harm to succeeding generations. That is why we must take our sin seriously. It not only harms us, and those we relate to; but it can also wound many people in succeeding generations that we may never know.
Thankfully, the opposite is also true. When we allow God to radically deal with our sin and to cleanse us and to forgive us, we experience the amazing grace of God actively working in our lives. But more than that, when we allow God to heal us of our anger, or greed, or pettiness, we bring blessing on our children. Not only do they benefit from having a godly parent, they also see how powerful God’s grace is to transform sinful flesh. As they embrace the life-changing God we serve, they are changed. And, as they are transformed, their children receive a blessing, and a model.
What a troubling thought to realize that sin, left unchecked in my life, could ultimately bring heartache to my grandchildren. But, what joy to know, that the same God that I eagerly embrace is fully prepared to one day bless my grandchildren, because of how I walked with Him. There is always far more at stake in the decisions we make with God than we realize.