“The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua.... And there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel” (Judg. 2:7,10).
The second generation of any movement is a time when the danger of giving up what the first generation bought is very great. Israel under Joshua and the elders was faithful, living in the fear of God. But the second generation had not seen the works of the Lord. They got the truths from the elders secondhand. They learned them in an intellectual way, rather than embracing them in their hearts.
It is very easy for the second generation to have the truth in the head, yet not in the heart. We may have all these truths on our bookshelves, for they can now be purchased for a few dollars. But it is one thing to pay out of the pocket, quite another to pay for it out of the soul. It is one thing to get truth into our heads, another to get it into our hearts.
There was a time when the Spirit of God sounded the midnight cry, “Behold the bridegroom cometh.” With what power it took hold of souls and brought them out to meet the bridegroom. How near was the glory! How dear the Lord! And how insignificant all the world became!
What blessings the Spirit of God has revealed: a glorious Christ at God’s right hand, a heavenly church, and all the precious truths that flow from and are connected with it. Oh! that we may have these truths revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. Those generations who bought the truth have passed on, and we are arisen in their place. Have we had to do with God about these precious truths? Have we been alone with Him concerning them? We cannot follow leaders, except for the example they leave in following Christ. May God stir us to be found searching the Scriptures for ourselves (Acts 17:11), buying the truth (Prov. 23:23), and never letting it slip away (2 Tim. 1:13; Rev. 2:25).
S. Ridout