Someone to Follow You

Royal Priesthood, Holy Nation                                Acts 1:15 – 22

Someone to Follow Youby Robert T. Cooper

In Terry Brooks’ novel, Bloodfire Quest, an ancient person has selected one of the heroines for a quest. Brooks has this ancient to say, “The elders of a species always measure the fitness of the young to take their place.”

I don’t know how old you are, but I am now in my sixties. As my life has gone by I have worked in lots of places and volunteered in lots of places. It has sometimes been my concern as to who could take over when the time came for me to leave. It has sometimes been my concern as to who could simply cover if I had to be out for whatever reason. My philosophy was that things should be able to continue without me as with me.

I have spent my life investing in others, discipling others. It has always been an honor when some person would permit me to invest in his or her life. Now as I get older, I am concerned with leaving a legacy of even more dedicated followers of Christ. I don’t simply want someone to replace me; I want to leave a whole host of people to carry on where I eventually leave off.

The time came quickly and unexpectedly when the Apostles felt the need to replace Judas Iscariot, who had committed suicide. They wouldn’t continue to add Apostles throughout time. It was done just this once. But there has been a need for the church to continually have leadership.

The Apostles looked around to see who was prepared to step into the gap. They proposed two people who fit the bill, but one gets the idea there were even more that might have met all the qualifications. Jesus had done well anticipating the need and seeing that there were people prepared. Of course, the Lord made the final choice.

The point for us is that we ought to anticipate the need for additional leaders when we pass from the scene. We ought to be seeing that there are people prepared.

In the comments, please share whether you are investing in the lives of those who might possibly replace you, if necessary. What are you doing to prepare them?