The Gospel for all time

Often when we think of spreading the good news of Jesus we think of the dimension of space. We want to proclaim this message to every place on the earth. We want to share Christ with the nations. This is vital to spreading our faith and is the impetus for many a church mission program.
But what we sometimes fail to remember is that God is not only interested in the dimension of space, but he is also interested in the dimension of time. He wants His name to be known not only in every place under heaven, but God wants His name to be known in every time - throughout the generations.
That's where our minstry to the younger generation comes in! Every Christian who is interested in spreading the gospel must not only be interested in the space dimension but also the time dimension, and that means we must be looking to pass on this blessed message to those who will come after us.
It was heartening today to see in Psalm 71 that the psalmist had the benefit of knowing God from an early age. Someone had been faithful to pass on to him a knowledge of God which he carried with him all his days. In verses 5 he declares, "For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth." What a blessing to know the Lord from your youth and to be able to lean upon and trust in Him throughout your days!
It was even more heartening that this writer, now apparently older, has not forgotten the benefit of being taught the faith by others at an early age, now has the desire to share that blessing with those who will come after him. In verses 17-18 he again declares, "O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come." What a prayer - asking God to sustain you until you have had the chance to pass on the faith - to pass on the might and power of the Lord to another generation!
In Numbers 27 today we read how Moses commissioned Joshua to take over leadership. Placing his hands upon Joshua, Moses conferred his authority on him. He knew he would soon be leaving the earth and wanted to make sure the people had a shepherd leader. Those of us who are older should have that picture in mind. We should always be thinking that one day we will be leaving the earth, and if we are to going to proclaim the gospel through time, we must be passing it on to those who are younger than us - to those who are to come.
The gospel we have is a gospel for all space and all time. Let us not neglect to share it everywhere the Lord takes us, especially looking to those younger who can continue to spread it to future generations - all to the glory of God!