“This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jonadab son of Rechab will never fail to have a man to stand before me always.’” (Jeremiah 35:19, CSB)
Two weeks ago, we read the story of Jonadab and his descendants. They believed God’s word and built their lives on the solid foundation of God’s promises. It wasn’t easy. C.S. Lewis once said: “When the whole World is running towards the edge of a cliff, he who runs in the opposite direction seems to have lost his mind.”
They were swimming against the tide. They were IN the world but not OF the world. They managed to remain pure in the midst of a cultural free-fall.
As you remember, Jonadab asked his family to follow some family rules and when Jeremiah met the family some 250 years later, they were still following them. God singled this family out as an example to Judah of what faithfulness looks like. If more families in Judah lived like the Rechabites, Judah wouldn’t be facing punishment.
The story ends with Jeremiah speaking God’s blessing over the family. What a legacy Jonadab left his family.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about legacy and heritage – the idea of passing something valuable on to future generations.
It’s fitting, then, that this Sunday we’ll be celebrating with Pastor Jeff and Charity Goree as they retire from paid ministry. Thousands of years ago, God used Jonadab as an example of faithfulness. I think the Lord’s doing the same today with Jeff and Judy.
Want to see what faithfulness looks like? Just look at Jonadab or Jeff and Judy. Want to be faithful? Do what they do.
I hope you’ll join us Sunday. After my message “Creating a Legacy,” we’ll have smoked brisket. Bring a side or dessert and stick around after church. We’ll have a lot of fun and say thank you to the Fairchilds?…Fairchildren?…Jeff and Judy!
