Fireside: My Generation

“So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations;

and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations;

and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.”

Matthew 1:17

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At what age can you start talking about ‘my generation?’ I feel older than my age most of the time, not physically, but socially. I feel a deep connection to my heritage, and anticipate great times in my future, but I often don’t get the world around me. And I don’t think it gets me either.

Did they ‘fit’ their generation? Did they even try?

Look at the three persons who outline Matthew’s genealogy. Abraham uprooted from his father’s idolatry to pursue God’s calling. David superceded his seven brothers as God’s King of Israel. Christ Jesus erupted onto the world’s stage to change everything.

Of Abraham, the Bible says, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises,… and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (Hebrews 11:13) Abraham was called out to follow a God he had neither served nor seen. Faith separated him.

The Bible says, “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep,” (Acts 13:36a) The Lord chose David for the people and the time he lived. David was in his generation, but certainly not of it.

Jesus Christ rewrote time itself. He came from eternity, split history like an atom, and returned to eternity. Time would fail to tell what He- of whom the world was not worthy– has done.

These men marked divisions in the history of mankind. In each case, the world they were born into was far from what God wanted it to be. They didn’t fit their time. They were a different generation.

How long is a generation?

If my sources are correct, the fourteen generations from Abraham to David cover 905 years (2000BC-1095BC). From David to Babylon are 509 years (1095BC-586BC). Babylon to Christ are 586 years (586BC-0AD). Divided evenly, that gives us three estimates to the length of a generation:

• Abraham to David: 905 years/14 generations= 64.6 years per generation.
• David to Babylon: 509 years/14 generations= 36.3 years per generation.
• Babylon to Christ: 586 years/14 generations= 41.8 years per generation.

This defines a generation as a much shorter span of years than I expected. When I think about a ‘past generation,’ I see it in black and white. But the truth is, before you turn 40: you are already outdated. We are already ‘living in the past.’

But it also shows me that God still calls men and women OUT from their generation. They are not called to live in the past, but to live for eternity. Every disciple of Jesus Christ is called to be part of a different society, looking forward to a different time.

So the next time you feel a little old or disconnected, remember:

“But ye are a chosen generation,

… that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

1 Peter 2:9

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