In continuing my reading of “Chase the Lion,” the latest chapters were fascinating to me, as the author discussed how our current experiences will be used by God for future generational influence. I was raised with the belief that “All good things work together for the good of those who love God” (Romans 8:28), but the concept of good OR bad things that occur in my life being used by God in the lives of others sometimes generations separated from me was a little challenging for me to get my mind around. Here are some highlights from this section of the book.
Our experiences form our destiny.
When David took harp lessons as a kid, he never imagined that those lessons would someday position him as a member of King Saul’s court. As he practiced slinging a stone while tending sheep, it never crossed his mind that this skill set would catapult him into the national limelight. Even when David was hiding out in caves as a fugitive, God was deepening his emotional capacity to write psalms that would pull heartstrings thousands of years later.
Just because something isn’t part of your life plan doesn’t mean it’s not part of God’s plan. God is working His good, pleasing, and perfect plan for your life in a thousand ways you aren’t even aware of. Everything in your past is preparation for something in your future. God wastes nothing! Even when you have a setback, God has already prepared your comeback. The God who works all things together for good will leverage every experience, every skill, every mistake, and every bit of knowledge you have acquired.
Generational influence.
Even when you feel as if you aren’t making a difference, God might be using you in ways you aren’t aware of. And it’s not the immediate impact that matters most; it’s the exponential impact, to the third and fourth generations. An inheritance is what you leave for someone. A legacy is what you leave in someone…it’s the influence your dream has on others even after you die. Legacy isn’t measured by what you accomplish during your life span. Legacy is measured by the lives that are affected by your life long after you are gone.
Passing the baton.
Everything God does through you is a testimony to those who have parented you, mentored you, discipled you, coached you, and loved you. You are their downline, and they are your upline.
The true test of greatness isn’t measured by your accomplishments. The true test of greatness is measured by the accomplishments of those you surround yourself with, those who come after you. Again, success is succession. That’s how our dreams outlive us.