Judges 2:10  After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel. (NLT)

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Living memory fades as one generation ages out, and another becomes dominant. Old truths get questioned. New authority figures in government, academia, and media ask questions like, “Did the Holocaust really happen? Was it as bad as they said?”

New ideas arise. Many of these new ideas tend to sound like old heresies long discredited. 

Proverbs 12:19 says, “Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.”

This, then, leads to a discussion of what is true, how we can know it’s true, and whether my ideas regarding truth are the same as your ideas about truth. 

Truthfully, this kind of circular logic makes the aging generation tired even as it invigorates the new generation, which wants to rationalize and gain acceptance for the same old problems that have plagued humanity since the dawn of time. 

Robert Fulghum released a book in 1986 entitled All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. For those who take the Bible seriously, Genesis, the first book in the Bible, teaches us how much we need the rest of the Bible. Why are there so many laws and case studies in Leviticus? Because Genesis is so real and tragic for so many. 

Why do we need Exodus and Deuteronomy? As the books of Joshua and Judges soon prove, we tend to miss life’s lessons the first time. And the second time, and the third, and so on. Generation after generation makes the same mistakes. Case study after case study shows us the consequences of bad decisions, and yet some people think there will not be consequences this time. 

There is a better way. It’s called Hear and Obey. To a large degree, we get to choose a blessed life or a burdened life. Learning to hear and obey God releases us from unforced errors and self-inflicted wounds. It saves us from the shortcuts that actually take longer, cost more, and hurt worse. 

This can be learned in kindergarten, but it must be applied every decade and generation. Good decisions produce good outcomes. God’s grace is abundant and available. There is more of it than you will need today, tomorrow, and forever. Ask for it, apply it, and extend it to others. There really is no better way to live. Save yourself the trouble of making unnecessary mistakes and causing unnecessary pain. 

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I will keep learning the lessons of God’s goodness, kindness, mercy, and grace. 

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Our Father, lead me deeper into your truth. Teach me the better way in every decision. Empower me to trust your wisdom. Rescue from causing myself or others unnecessary pain and problems by disregarding what is true for all time, even now. Amen.