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“After He Had Served The Purpose Of God In His Own Generation”

The above quote is a thought-provoking line, isn’t it? It comes from the first of Paul’s speeches in Acts. It was in the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia, and he was demonstrating by the Scriptures, that God has fulfilled what He promised to the fathers by the resurrection of Jesus. Having noted their hope in “the holy and sure blessings of David,” the apostle observed, “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, but He whom God raised up did not see corruption” (Acts 13:36-37 ESV).

Consider the implications of this awe-inspiring thought. Each of us live in our own generation. It will pass. As all generations have, my own generation will fall asleep and be laid with its fathers. Yours will too, no matter whether you ever take the time to contemplate what this fact must tell us about the meaning of our lives or not. God will still be God.

He is the God of a thousand generations (Deuteronomy 7:9; 1 Chronicles 16:15; Psalm 105:8). His character is the meaning of each of them. He continues to work His purposes in all of them. His power and wisdom are far superior to any of them. Without this fact, wouldn’t any generation simply be destined for corruption? (Deuteronomy 1:22-35; cf. Psalm 95:10-11).

But something wonderful is possible. A person can “serve the purpose of God in his own generation” and “fall asleep.” He can be quite a blessing to his own generation by doing the will of God within it (Acts 13:36 KJV). By serving the counsel of God in his own generation, he may not only impact succeeding generation for good (Psalm 78:1-8), but also be at peace with the passing of his own.

What changes everything, is that God raised up His Son. Unlike David, He did not see corruption. He is the interruption of what has been the inevitable end of every generation. He is “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20 ESV). Through Him, we will awake to life (Romans 8:10-11; 1 Corinthians 6:13-14; 2 Corinthians 4:13-14).

It is more meaningful than ever that we serve the purpose of God in our own generation. We must do His will (Matthew 7:21), follow His counsel (Proverbs 3:5-10); where we are; while we live; in whatever ways we can; until we too fall asleep.

—Bill McFarland, via the Montana Street bulletin