This Generation Needs What You Carry | Jentezen Franklin
This Generation Needs What You Carry: Passing the Baton of Faith and Purpose
In every era, God raises up men and women who shape the destiny of generations to come. Their hard work, sacrifices, and unwavering faith pave the way for blessings that future generations may one day enjoy. Whether evident in the fields of our communities, the hearts of families, or the pursuit of God’s calling, what you carry today has the power to change everything for those coming after you. Let’s explore how your obedience, resilience, and willingness to serve can impact not only your own life but the world around you. There has never been a generation more in need of what God has placed inside of you.
The Legacy of Sacrifice: Preparing the Fields for a Harvest
Picture an old farmer with simple means, living on a humble piece of land. Every summer, his young grandson would help with farm chores, and—year after year—they labored in a particular field troubled with rocks. The work was grueling; it seemed the effort brought no reward. Generations spent hours removing rocks, yet no fruit ever grew in that field. The old man passed, and with him, the hope for a fruitful harvest in that rocky land appeared to die as well.
Decades later, after life had moved on, the family returned to the old home. They saw something awe-inspiring: the very field that seemed barren now stood tall with corn. What was once a plot haunted by rocks was transformed—a field of abundance replacing a legacy of struggle. The new owner enjoyed fruits the previous generation could only dream of. That grandson, now a man, quietly honored his grandfather by taking part of the harvest and laying it at his grave. In his heart, he knew: “Granddad, you picked up rocks so this generation could eat corn.”
How often do we forget to thank those who struggled for the advantages we possess today? Just as one generation clears the way, the next reaps the reward. Your journey with God might mean clearing spiritual, emotional, or physical obstacles, so those coming after you will inherit blessings. Let’s be grateful for those who have gone before us, and let us be the ones who continue the cycle of sacrifice for God’s Kingdom.
A Nation Built by Sacrifice
This story isn’t just about one family or one farm—it’s a metaphor for how nations, communities, and churches are built. Throughout history, great revivals and spiritual awakenings came because someone cleared the field. In America and beyond, countless believers prayed, fought, and toiled so that we could freely worship, preach, and witness. The freedom, peace, and opportunities we enjoy are the results of battles won and prayers answered by previous generations.
In Matthew 13:38, Jesus explained, “The field is the world.” God sends believers into places that seem hopeless—fields full of rocks—to labor for a future harvest. Through the hands of those willing to pick up rocks, God transforms barren spaces into places full of life and purpose. Your willingness to labor and persevere may not always produce immediate results, but it’s foundational for what God wants to grow next.
The True Treasure: Carrying People, Not Possessions
It’s natural to assume that success is measured by wealth, power, or influence. Yet when Jesus walked the earth, He never carried gold or silver, though the Scripture says, “The silver and the gold are mine” (Haggai 2:8). The Son of God chose not to measure His worth in material goods, but in the treasure of people. Wherever He went, He lifted up, healed, and empowered others. When provision was needed, it often came supernaturally or through the hands of willing people—like a young boy sharing his loaves and fish, or a coin discovered inside the mouth of a fish.
The Apostle Paul echoed this, saying he was willing to “spend and be spent” for the sake of the Gospel and others. True legacy isn’t found in bank accounts or real estate, but in lives changed, hearts transformed, and faith passed from one generation to another. What are you carrying? Is your heart burdened for people? Are you willing to be spent so others might know Jesus? This is where real treasure is found.
The Power and Potential of a New Generation
The challenges facing this generation are great, but so is the potential. Many wonder if today’s young people are ready to pick up the baton and clear the rocky fields in front of them. Scripture answers with a resounding “yes.”
When Jesus chose His disciples, He didn’t select academics, politicians, or wealthy merchants—He called young men, many of them teenagers. Only Peter (and Jesus Himself) appeared old enough to pay the temple tax; most of the others were likely in their teens. Yet, Jesus saw something in them the world could not: passion, courage, and teachability. With this group, He launched a movement that would turn the world upside down—and He’s still calling young people to do the same today.
Don’t let anyone convince you that you’re too inexperienced, too young, too unqualified to make a difference. “Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). God delights in using those the world overlooks. What matters isn’t your age or qualifications, but your willingness to be used by God—to pick up the rocks for the blessing of someone else’s future.
Examples of Modern Impact
Throughout history, God has raised up world-changers long before anyone else recognized their potential. Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, started his organization at just 18. Without a formal college education, but with a clear sense of calling and a gift for communication, he influenced millions by the time he reached his early 30s. In the same way, figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy made profound impacts at ages many consider “