S) "4 'Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, "Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.'" But they did not listen or give heed to Me,' declares the Lord."
Zechariah 1:4 (NASB)
O) The message here is pretty simple, to learn from the mistakes of others. Early in history, Israel was told to be holy. They were told not to conform to the practices of their neighboring lands. They were told to not to live like the previous inhabitants of their Promised Land. They were warned with very severe, very clearly defined consequences for turning their backs on the commands of God (see Deuteronomy 28). Still, that's exactly what the people did. They were told directly, but their example was external (namely, the Canaanites who lived there before Israel). But, as we fast-forward several hundred years, and now Israel had experienced their own exile from God's land, and then they had an internal example to heed. That's essentially the message of this verse, "Believe, when God's messenger warns, because now you have seen that it will happen, even against God's people."
A) I have two older brothers. Growing up, I saw them each make some mistakes (some more serious than others). I was careful to observe them, and I tried my best to learn from their mistakes. I had varying degrees of success. Even so, I found my own ways to be wayward. Still, their example, being so close to home (even though they'd both moved out well before 18), was a more powerful example. It was a lot harder for me to separate myself from their example, by reason of some unjustified arrogance. My thinking was that, as brothers, we shared many of the same traits. They were smart like me, came from the same childhood, had seen the same hardships, had many of the same skills or attributes, and yet they made mistakes and errors. So, the warnings of their experiences hit home a lot more than, say, a D.A.R.E. program. Spiritually speaking, all of this translates very well. I think this is why it is so important for me to be transparent with my children. Obviously, there are some details they won't need to know, or not until they are at an understanding age. However, it would be hypocritical of my to pretend like I had a spotless history (or even a spotless current life). But, even more than that, it would be a missed opportunity. My own testimony is an opportunity for them to learn from my mistakes. For them to see that, as faithfully as I was serving God in my teenage years, I still wandered away foolishly. It's important for them to see that, as smart as I was, I was still fooled about smoking cigarettes. It's important for them to see that these things happened close to their own generation, within their own family history. I need to give my children an opportunity to learn from my mistakes, but they can't do that unless they hear about my mistakes. As for myself, I must be humble enough to realize that, without Christ, I am as helpless to mistakes as any man. If I am not fully committed to following my Lord, then it is only a matter of time before I ruin my life. If I am not a disciple of Jesus, then I am a disciple of the world, and that will cost me gravely.
P) Father, Your grace is written all over my life. You are holy, and You call me to be holy. I must live a life that is different, in order to glorify Your name. Let me remain forever faithful, to following my Lord Jesus Christ, as His disciple. Continue to work within me, that I may resemble Your Son more and more each day. Let my light shine first to my own children. Help me to be honest and humble, to magnify Your work of the gospel in my own life. Let them see my failures as warnings, and let them heed those warnings. Open their eyes and ears, that they would learn from my mistakes. Let Your will be done in me, and in my family, and in the world. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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