Your Legacy

I’ve been reflecting lately on what we pass down to our children and grandchildren. Beyond physical traits like hair color, eye color, or height, we hand down so much more. Sometimes it’s an old family heirloom, a piece of wisdom gained through years of experience, or lessons inherited from our own parents and grandparents. These are often cherished gifts—wanted, even needed.
But not everything we pass along is welcome. Some inheritances, like health conditions, are burdens no one asks for. Recently, while studying Numbers 14 in God’s Word, I stumbled across a verse that stopped me in my tracks. In Numbers 14:18, it says:
“The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.”
Now, this doesn’t mean God punishes us for our fathers’ sins. I’ve heard old preachers put it plainly: “Every tub sits on its own bottom.” We’re each accountable for our own sin, and through Jesus’ sacrifice, we can find forgiveness. But what this verse does reveal is that the consequences of a father’s sin can ripple outward, touching the lives of the next generation—and beyond.
This truth has grown clearer to me as I’ve aged and my family has expanded. My beliefs and behaviors don’t just affect me—they shape my wife, my three daughters, and now my grandson. When I was young and single, my choices—good or bad—rarely impacted anyone else. But as a husband, father, and grandfather, I see now how much weight my actions carry.
Take this example: Imagine I struggled with drug addiction but, by God’s grace, overcame it. My children might witness how a good God rescued me from that sin. They’d have a powerful testimony of their dad—or “Papaw”—that could spark hope in their own struggles. My belief in God’s power and my behavior in trusting Him could inspire them to lean on Him too.
But flip the script. What if I let that sin defeat me? What if I never sought God’s help and instead fell deeper—verbally or physically abusing my family, creating a home filled with darkness and unpredictability? My children might watch me numb life’s pain with drugs or alcohol. They could learn that life is too hard to face sober, and they might turn to the same crutches—passing that pattern down to their own children and grandchildren. Sometimes, it takes generations to untangle the mess one person’s sin creates.
Numbers 14:18 reminds us of God’s character: He’s slow to anger, overflowing with mercy, ready to forgive. Yet He doesn’t let the guilty off the hook—the consequences of sin linger, affecting those we love most, even “to the third and fourth generation.”
Here’s the point: Your relationship with Jesus isn’t meant to be a private affair. It can’t be. You have a choice. Claim victory over sin through Christ, and you could pass down a legacy of faith, resilience, and hope to the generations that follow. Or let sin claim victory over you, and in your brokenness, you might hand down destructive lessons and lifestyles instead. The decision is yours—it’s up to each of us.
So, start today. Dive into the Bible. Spend time in prayer with our Father. Ask Him to show you how your beliefs and behaviors impact those you love. Ask Him to uncover and uproot any sin in your life. And ask Him to teach you more about Him—so you can intentionally show your family that following Jesus is worth it. Your legacy depends on it.