You are part of an ancient lineage that will never die.
The blood of Jesus flows through you just as it flowed through the twelve apostles. It has not lost its potency or gone awry. There is a direct link from them to you.
In our time, it’s so easy to feel disconnected from history. In fact, many in this generation see history as a speck. It’s something to be analyzed and observed, no more than that, but history is what connects us to the truth of Jesus’ death and resurrection and to His ascendance and glorification. History is what connects us to the early church. There is a long lineage of people who have carried the Gospel of Jesus Christ from then until now.
Through great periods of darkness in the Earth, the Word of God has been passed on from one generation to the next. We know the names of great heroes of the faith from the original 12 and the early church to the Desert Fathers to the Celtic church (established by “Saint” Patrick) and to the last 400 years of waves of revival, plus everywhere in-between.
Over the last 2000 years, Christians have never lacked in the advancement and increase of the knowledge of Jesus, the Christ, in the Earth. As it says in Isaiah 9:7 NIV, “there will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore.” And then it says, “the zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.” Indeed, that zeal from the Lord has passed from one to another one, from one nation to another nation, and from one generation to another generation. It has never stopped, and it will never die.
Believer, you have a strong lineage that ties you back to the foundations of the faith. Even beyond Christ, as it says in Romans, we are grafted into the nourishing root (Romans 11:16-24), and “if the root is holy, so are the branches” (Romans 11:16 NIV). You and I are grafted in as branches, and this tree is ever-growing.
So there is no need for you to feel atomized and disconnected. There’s no need for you to double-down on attempting to feel connected to your ancestors, those who share your physical bloodline, because you have a greater bloodline that flows from the blood that was shed on the Cross. That same bloodline has flowed through every bold and courageous Christian who has stood on the Word of God, and it flows through you.
You are more connected to the Christians that lived hundreds and thousands of years ago than you are to your biological ancestry. You have received a new ancestry, a new DNA. You are a new creation!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” - 2 Corinthians 5:17
May you bear as much fruit as the ones who came before you. May you live and not die and declare the works of the Lord (Psalm 118:17). May you be as bold as a lion (Proverbs 28:1).
You are a branch of an ancient tree with a holy root. The fruit you bear will multiply and outlive you, and even when you die, this tree and the holy truth borne out of the Cross, that Jesus is King and Savior, will keep growing as there is no end to its increase.
You are part of an ancient lineage that will never die.
“ If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.” - Romans 11:16 NIV
Well done!! Be encouraged and stay steadfast. Holy Spirit will guide you to deep dive so you can share and uplift others. Peace and Blessings (Frances)
Kelsey, such strength, wisdom and encouragement! Thanks!