I have heard it a lot lately: "I hate to think what kind of world my children will have to live in when they grow up." I have said it myself about my own grandchildren. I think what goes unsaid by most is this: "Will they be able to stay faithful and endure?" Finally, the answer came to me one day as I sat musing, or actually brooding, about the direction our country seems to be taking recently, "Of course they will. They have parents who teach them every day, who live godly examples in front of them, and grandparents who do their best to reinforce those values. Of course they will make it!"
Yet that sums up the problem most people have—they do NOT do those things and when they stop to think about it honestly, they know it. No wondered they are worried.
I daresay that upwards of 90% of all parents train their children about "stranger danger." They probably know not to talk to someone they do not know when their parents are not with them, not to go with anyone who is not their parents or someone they are positive their parents sent (we had passwords for that), and to never let anyone touch them in private places. Those who have firearms in the home probably taught them gun safety from the time they could walk. Those with pools probably put locked gates around them. We are always safeguarding our children's lives. We should also be preparing them to handle persecution and temptation.
Now is the time to talk to them, not some distant day in the future. Sit down tonight and review stories of faithful people who said "No!" to idols, "No!" to evil rulers, and "No!" to Satan. But even better than that, show them a life of devotion. Show them a servant who sacrifices for his God. Show them someone who studies and prays daily, who discusses Bible subjects with his family, including the children, and with other Christians. Have Christians in your home and show them that others believe this, too—they are not alone. But even if they are, they have a Father who will not forsake them. And teach them the hope and the glories of being in Heaven with that Father.
Do you want your children to survive the world that's coming? When we might be persecuted or at least scorned publicly for believing in God? When believing what God says about morality will get us not only ridiculed but hated? When we might lose our possessions because we do not fall in line with the status quo? They say that the Hungarian Uprising of 1956 against the Stalinist Hungarian government happened because, despite the Communists' control of the schools and universities, parents taught their children at home about the old Hungary and the freedoms they had enjoyed then. Though the Soviet Union put down that revolt, 30,000 refugees fled to the United States. The seeds of that revolt ended in the Republic of Hungary, established in 1989—all because parents did what parents are supposed to do, teach their children at home constantly the things they want them to know.
Ours will not, and should not, be a military uprising. But teaching our children at home the things they should know is something we need to take seriously. "I don't have time," won't be a suitable excuse. "I don't know how," will not get the job done. If you are truly worried about the world your children and grandchildren may have to live in someday, then do something about it now. It may well be that their souls will depend upon it.
But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all (Ps 103:17-19).
Dene Ward
Yet that sums up the problem most people have—they do NOT do those things and when they stop to think about it honestly, they know it. No wondered they are worried.
I daresay that upwards of 90% of all parents train their children about "stranger danger." They probably know not to talk to someone they do not know when their parents are not with them, not to go with anyone who is not their parents or someone they are positive their parents sent (we had passwords for that), and to never let anyone touch them in private places. Those who have firearms in the home probably taught them gun safety from the time they could walk. Those with pools probably put locked gates around them. We are always safeguarding our children's lives. We should also be preparing them to handle persecution and temptation.
Now is the time to talk to them, not some distant day in the future. Sit down tonight and review stories of faithful people who said "No!" to idols, "No!" to evil rulers, and "No!" to Satan. But even better than that, show them a life of devotion. Show them a servant who sacrifices for his God. Show them someone who studies and prays daily, who discusses Bible subjects with his family, including the children, and with other Christians. Have Christians in your home and show them that others believe this, too—they are not alone. But even if they are, they have a Father who will not forsake them. And teach them the hope and the glories of being in Heaven with that Father.
Do you want your children to survive the world that's coming? When we might be persecuted or at least scorned publicly for believing in God? When believing what God says about morality will get us not only ridiculed but hated? When we might lose our possessions because we do not fall in line with the status quo? They say that the Hungarian Uprising of 1956 against the Stalinist Hungarian government happened because, despite the Communists' control of the schools and universities, parents taught their children at home about the old Hungary and the freedoms they had enjoyed then. Though the Soviet Union put down that revolt, 30,000 refugees fled to the United States. The seeds of that revolt ended in the Republic of Hungary, established in 1989—all because parents did what parents are supposed to do, teach their children at home constantly the things they want them to know.
Ours will not, and should not, be a military uprising. But teaching our children at home the things they should know is something we need to take seriously. "I don't have time," won't be a suitable excuse. "I don't know how," will not get the job done. If you are truly worried about the world your children and grandchildren may have to live in someday, then do something about it now. It may well be that their souls will depend upon it.
But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all (Ps 103:17-19).
Dene Ward
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