I’m deeply concerned that we’re raising a generation that knows very little about God, His Word, or the principles upon which we should build our lives.
And it reminds me of something that happened in Israel after the death of Joshua.
Joshua had faithfully led the children of Israel into the Promised Land. Near the end of his life, he challenged the people to make a decision about whom they would serve.
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
The people promised that they would serve the Lord and obey His voice.
But then we read something heartbreaking in Judges 2:10:
“Another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.”
How could a generation that had experienced God’s faithfulness fail to pass that knowledge to their children?
And are we seeing something similar happen in America today?
Your Worldview Determines How You Live
Every person has a worldview, whether they realize it or not.
Your worldview determines how you answer life’s most important questions.
Who am I? Why am I here? What is right and wrong? Where am I going? What is my eternal destiny?
These aren’t small questions. The answers shape your decisions, relationships, values, and understanding of life itself.
There are two fundamentally different foundations from which we can answer them: a worldview centered on human reasoning or one grounded in the truth of God’s Word.
A humanistic worldview places human reasoning and experience at the center. Philosophies such as materialism, rationalism, and relativism approach life without recognizing God’s Word as the ultimate authority.
A biblical worldview begins somewhere entirely different.
It begins with the reality that Almighty God exists.
What Does a Biblical Worldview Believe?
A biblical worldview recognizes that God is eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present.
He created everything that exists, including mankind, whom He created in His own image.
It also recognizes that there is a spiritual world, that human beings need spiritual rebirth through Jesus Christ, and that absolute truth exists because God Himself is the source of truth.
But there’s something else that’s critically important.
A biblical worldview teaches us to seek wisdom from above rather than relying entirely upon human wisdom.
James 3 describes the difference between earthly wisdom and the wisdom that comes from God.
And Proverbs 4 tells us to get wisdom and understanding.
Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom
I believe there are three things every Christian needs to develop.
Knowledge means learning God’s Word, His principles, and His commandments.
Understanding means learning God’s ways. How did He deal with Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, and others throughout Scripture?
Wisdom means learning to view life’s circumstances from God’s perspective and responding according to His truth.
That’s how we develop a biblical worldview.
It isn’t enough to know what the Bible says. We must learn God’s ways and apply His truth to the decisions we make every day.
What Is Shaping Your Life?
I want to challenge you to examine your own worldview.
Are your beliefs being shaped primarily by the culture around you, or are they being shaped by Scripture?
When you face a difficult decision, do you begin with human opinion, or do you seek God’s wisdom?
Joshua understood that every generation must decide whom it will serve.
That decision is before us today.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
And I pray that we will raise another generation that knows Him, knows His Word, and understands His ways.