“Do you know who my father is? Do you know who my family is?” We might hear someone say this, expecting that their family name will get them some influence or power they wish, believing that mentioning the name of their father will keep someone from picking a fight, or clashing with them. They might also hope that stating their family name or connections might get them a better position, better table and service, or move them to the head of the line. We see this sometimes in spiritual circles, as well. “My grandfather built this church, so the pastor and board better do what I say!” They may think that because their father or other relative was a pastor or a missionary, they should have special privileges, even with God. This thinking is nothing new. People around the time of John the Baptist were talking like that, and he had something to say about it. Let’s look into our Scripture today from the Gospel of Luke.
As John the Baptist began his ministry as the forerunner to the coming Messiah, he preached a message of repentance, calling upon people to turn from their sins and follow the Lord God. Though John had a significant following among many people, a large number of the Pharisees and other Jewish religious leaders who heard him preach felt they did not need to make any changes in their lives, that they needed no repentance because they were descendants from Abraham (vs. 7-8). They felt that their bloodline gave them all the influence and standing they needed with God, and their behavior didn’t matter.
However, as John the Baptist heard this from many of the Pharisees, he challenged that thinking in his preaching. As he told his audience, God values true repentance above ritual. Just going through the religious rituals of the faith, but not having a changed heart, was not enough. Just saying that Abraham was their father was not going to impress God. Abraham’s true children are not merely physical descendants, but those who follow his faith, believing God’s Word the way he did. Later the Apostle Paul preached this message as he brought the Gospel to the Gentiles. He showed that God did not regard one’s blood-line as making one a true descendant of Abraham. Instead it was having the saving faith that Abraham had that made one his true descendant (Galatians 3:6-14). To trust one’s physical ancestry is to shift the focus of faith away from God.
There are many people today who feel that they can get into heaven riding on the coattails of their parents and grandparents, or perhaps also their spouse. They feel that since their parents or grandparents were good Christians, active members of this or that church, that this is good enough, and should get them some points with God. Or that since their wife was such a good Christian, that should count enough with God. However, someone else’s faith will do nothing for us when we stand before God on Judgment Day. Your mother or grandmother’s faith won’t matter for you then, nor will your wife’s faith. It is only your faith, or lack of faith, that will matter. If your parents were children of God through faith, that’s great. However, God does not have any grandchildren. Everyone must come to God through Jesus on their own, not depending on someone else’s faith.
John the Baptist continues on, telling his followers that a true, genuine repentance and saving faith will be evident by a changed life. Good works do not save us. However, a changed life is a sign that there is true, saving faith in one’s heart. Some of John’s followers were men and women who had lived disreputable lives before, among them tax collectors who at that time would collect far more money from the people than Rome asked for. John told them to show their new faith by stopping cheating the people. He told the soldiers to treat the people kindly (vs. 10-14). A life that has truly turned to God in repentance should show a change in behavior.
As our Scripture for today comes to a close John the Baptist leaves us with a picture of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus, who would come and bring the baptism of the Holy Spirit. John also stressed how Jesus would come bringing judgment, how He would separate the chaff from the good grain, the true believers from those who are not (vs. 16-17). Those who refuse to live for God are like chaff, the useless outer husk of the grain. Those who repent, come to faith in Jesus, and live for Him are like the full grain of wheat. The chaff is discarded, as it has no value. The grain has value and is kept.
What are we depending upon to bring us to heaven? Perhaps our name or family line might have some prestige here on earth, but it carries no weight with God. Someone else’s faith will help them, but will do us no good. Turn to the Lord Jesus today in repentance and faith, as the day will come when He will return, and all those who have not repented will be discarded like the chaff.
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