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It Only Takes One Generation

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Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles

The life of Howard Hughes started with great potential, but sadly ended in a heart-breaking condition. Even though he was one of the wealthiest men in the world, he died as a spiritually bankrupt individual.

Mr. Hughes was born in December of 1905 in Houston, Texas. His mother, Allene, died when he was 15 years of age. His father was a Harvard-educated attorney and a great inventor. He invented the rotary drill bit and later formed the Hughes Tool Company. Several years later, he formed the Hughes Aircraft Corporation. Howard, Jr. inherited seventy-five percent of the family business, making him an instant billionaire.

In the 1960’s he sold much of the company and purchased a number of gambling casinos. History records that he engaged in almost every form of immorality. He died in 1976 from obscurity and isolation, coupled with extreme phobias and drug addiction.

However, there is another part to this story. Howard Hughes came from a deeply religious family of gospel preachers. His great, great-grandfather was John A. Gano who was one of the restoration followers and friend of Barton Stone and Raccoon John Smith.

Hughes’ great-grandfather also was a gospel preacher. His son, W.B. Gano, was also a lawyer and a faithful preacher. His daughter, Allene, married Howard Hughes, Sr., the father of Howard Hughes.

The point of the above story is that it only took one generation to separate Howard Hughes from the religious identity of his family (cf. Judges 2:10; 1 Samuel 2:), being negatively influenced by the world’s allurements (cf. 2 Timothy 4:10). This separation cost him his mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.

Brethren and friends, we need to heed the inspired warning of the Hebrew writer, lest we fall into the same trap as Howard Hughes:

“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12).

Let’s seriously think about it!

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