I love cars.  My granddad worked for Ford Company most of his life as a mechanic and salesman. We’ve been a Ford family ever since.  My dad would tell me stories of his 60s something Gran Tornio that he would burn the rubber off the tires in.  I remember dad teaching me how to change the oil in cars, fix little things here and there, and most importantly just spending time together.

The History of Modern America in 15 Cars – cool link to see the changes in our nation through the lens of the auto world. This link got me thinking about things I want to pass on.

I bought a motorcycle in college.  It was fun. I think I had it for a year or two. One day I saw an old Mustang sitting on the side of the road in a an out-of-the-way neighborhood.  I mustered up some courage to knock on the door and talked to a guy about his car. Goodbye motorcycle. I bought a 1973 Mustang coupe with a 351 Cleveland V8 engine. That was my senior year of college, before marriage, before kids, before responsibility.

I hope to pass this car on to my kids one day. (I think my 3 year old son thinks Mustangs are the coolest, fastest cars on the planet…despite mine being pretty junky in the grand scheme of things.)

My car sits in my garage and once in a while gets a little attention.  But its not about the adrenaline rush. Its more about the legacy.  I want to pass on something worthwhile to my kids.  Not just a physical thing either, but a mindset and sense of value.  I want them to think about thier great granddad fixing this same style car. I want them to remember our times together learning how to change oil and spark plugs.  Through building a car together I know I will also be building character into their lives.

In the same way, but infinitely more eternal way, we are to be passing down our faith to our families. God makes this passing of legacy a priority in His word.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

2 Timothy 3:14-15
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Are you downloading your faith into the life of someone else?  Especially your children or the children whom you have influence? What values, habits, and beliefs are you passing on?  What is your legacy?  I know my legacy of faith will long outlast a car or any earthly thing.  Matthew 6:33 is a great reminder, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Let our legacy be rooted in His Kingdom first!

Your fellow worker in the field,  Adam