Spencer Clark
In 2020, the last class of students graduated who were alive during the events of 9/11. Not a single K-12 student alive today can remember experiencing the events of that day. How could they forget the event that shaped the last 20 years of American politics, history, military conflict, social life, travel, and sporting events? For them, September 11, 2001, is the distant past, a part of the history books, rather than the very real days and weeks that many of us lived. Will they remember how much that day shaped the rest of our lives?
In the New Testament there are two women, Lois and Eunice, whose influence outlived both of them. These women were remembered but not for the kind of thing we might expect. It was not their bravery or wealth, it was not their power or personality, and it was not their ability to protect and provide. Lois and Eunice were remembered because of their sincere faith that came to be within Timothy (2 Tim. 1:5). Through him, they influenced generations of churches, elders, deacons, and other preachers of the gospel.
It is unlikely that Lois and Eunice set out with a life plan for Timothy that included him becoming a gospel preacher. Indeed, they did not know, at first, what a preacher of the gospel was! But they did pass on their faith from generation to generation. Although they never became as well-known or widely traveled as Priscilla or Phoebe, these women did pass down the faith to Timothy. They did so, possibly without the help of their husbands, to a young man who would impact many future Christians, including us.
Eunice and Lois will forever be remembered by the church for their sincere faith they passed to Timothy. My question and challenge for us is this: Will we be remembered for our faith and the influence we had on the younger generations?