Passing The Torch

Dear leader, I want to ask you a question: Are you ready to pass the torch? One of the great tragedies I’ve seen is men and women of God growing old with no one coming behind them to whom they can pass the torch they’ve been on the race they’re running. Life isn’t a sprint or marathon race. No, it’s a relay race where we are called to pass the torch from our generation to the next generations. Unfortunately, many leaders grow old and fail or refuse to pass the torch they’ve been given to the next generation. Instead, they hold tightly to what little power they have rather than extending what they’ve been given. The glow dies, the ashes remain, and gradually the burning embers that remain disappear — the torch meant to be passed loses its fire. That’s what I’d like to talk about in this post.

Biblically, we see the passing of the torch from one generation to the next. In Father Abraham, we see him preparing to leave his entire estate to his son, Isaac. Isaac has two sons. Isaac leaves his estate to his son, Jacob. Jacob has twelve sons. God called  Jacob by a new name, Israel. Jacob passed his estate to his sons. In each case, the patriarchs saw their fatherly duty to pass the torch to the emerging generation. That passing of the torch was always heralded and sealed by a defining moment — the blessing of the new torchbearer by the older torchbearer. Today, we rarely see that happen.

Yet, the patriarchs are not the only example we see in scripture of the passing of the torch. Nor was the torch only meant to be passed from fathers to sons or mothers to daughters. In the prophet Moses, we see a faithful man, Joshua. Joshua was ordained by Moses. Joshua spent time with Moses, he knew the path to the mountain Moses had taken. He himself traveled halfway up the mountain with Moses…and he waited for Moses. While others chose the fast track, Joshua chose the slow and steady path of service to Moses. As a result, Moses spoke this blessing over Joshua:  “Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. 8And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”Deuteronomy 31:7, KJV.

“ May God give you the grace you need to pass the torch well without fumbling the handoff.”—Scott Wallis

.Yes, scripture teaches us to pass the torch. The torch is meant to be passed. Yet, we’ve often seen the fire on the torch as our fire rather than His fire. As a result, we grasp for the torch, holding a more firm grip on the torch; rather than holding the torch loosely, ready to pass the torch. Again, we’ve seen our race as a mad dash or marathon and not as it is meant to be — a relay race — we must be willing to pass the torch or we risk losing at the handoff the fire we are called to carry. And instead of the torch being passed, it’s dropped. 

Now, in an athletic relay race, practicing the passing of the baton is very important. So often, winning or losing of a relay race depends on the passing of the baton. Why then, do we spend so little time learning to pass the torch as torchbearers in our generation. I’ve seen so many leaders drop or fumble the torch as it was being passed. Rather than being prepared to pass the torch, leaders hold tightly to it, as if they are clinging for dear life. That defeats your entire purpose dear torchbearer. Your race isn’t a sprint or marathon. No! It’s a relay race. And the sooner you come to grips with that truth, the easier it will be for you to pass the torch you’re carrying to the next torchbearer. 

Get ready! The torch is about to be passed from an older generation to the next generation. Don’t drop the torch at its passing. Yield the torch to the right person at the right time. Select wisely. Not everyone is ready to carry the torch you hold. Nevertheless, I can guarantee there’s a faithful person waiting in the wings ready and willing to receive the torch you are carrying and continue running the race you’ve run on the next leg of the race until the finish line is actually reached. News flash! We still have a ways to go before we hit the finish line. 

So, dear leader, get ready, prepare to pass the torch, your time is coming to a close and a new torchbearer will run in your stead on the race you’ve begun. What was passed to you will be passed to someone else. Make sure your passing of the torch is a good one. And may God give you the grace you need to pass the torch well without fumbling the handoff. 

Let us pray!

— Scott Wallis