“The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.” —Proverbs 20:7

Having lived over 60 years now, I have been able to see a few generations: my grandparents’ generation, my parents’ generation, my generation, and now my children’s and grandchildren’s generations.

What happens from choices that were made decades ago can still come back to affect us—for better or worse, depending on what kind of choices they were. The choices of time are binding in eternity.

Contrast two men from the 19th century: Max Jukes and Jonathan Edwards.

Max Jukes lived in New York. He did not believe in Christ, or in raising his children in the way of the Lord. He refused to take his children to church, even when they asked to go. Of his 1,026 descendants:

• 300 were sent to prison for an average term of 13 years
• 190 were prostitutes
• 680 were admitted alcoholics

His family, thus far, has cost the state in excess of $420,000 and has made no contribution to society.

Jonathan Edwards also lived in New York, at the same time as Jukes. He was known to have studied 13 hours a day and, in spite of his busy schedule of writing, teaching, and pastoring, he made it a habit to come home and spend an hour each day with his children. He also saw to it that his children were in church every Sunday. Of his 929 descendants:

• 430 were ministers
• 86 became university professors
• 13 became university presidents
• 75 authored good books
• 7 were elected to the United States Congress
• 1 was Vice President of the United States

Edwards’ family never cost the state one cent.

We tend to think that our decisions only affect ourselves, but they have ramifications for generations to come.