INTRODUCTION
Even though some of our children may not be very little anymore, we may still see them as our precious child in all their innocence. Because our world has changed in so many ways, and much of what was known to be wrong and unacceptable when we were growing up, is now not only acceptable, but also encouraged, we desire to protect them from all that may lead them astray.
Our hearts break as some of us watch our children, who once seemed to love God and have a desire to live for him, choose one day to reach out and taste what the world has to offer. We begin to feel as if we have completely failed in our job of ‘training our child in the way they should go,’ (Proverbs 22:6) and in our minds, we run through a list of ‘if onlys‘…If only I spent even more time reading the Bible to them…If only I sent them to a Christian school. On and on we go, tormenting ourselves with what we should have done to ensure that our children would never have made the decision they have made, for one reason or another, to seemingly abandon the truth we faithfully and lovingly tried to share with them.
Many nights I tossed and turned and could not sleep, until God showed me a verse in Isaiah that totally set me free from guilt and overwhelming feelings of failure. I would like to share that verse with you now:
“Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.” (Isaiah 1:2)
God did not fail, and even though I am far from perfect, I had not failed! God reveals truth to us, as we reveal truth to our children, but God made each of us with a free will to choose to love and to place our faith and trust in Him for the forgiveness of our sins and to live for Him, or to reject Him and the truth that has been revealed to each and every one of us.
However, Jesus said in John 6:44:
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.”
God reveals to us in His Word that He did this drawing of all people to Himself through the death of His Son on the cross to pay our sin debt:
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.” John 12:32,33
Even though God, out of His deep love for us, provided the way for sinful mankind to be reconciled to Himself, it’s up to each one of us to respond to the gospel message when we hear it.
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
Sadly though, most of mankind loves their sin too much:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” (John 3:16-21)
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul had this to say regarding the rebellion of mankind specifically in the last days and exactly why they perish:
“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
But we can be assured of God’s love for each and every one of our children — and all of our loved ones — and that He is not willing that any should perish!
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8,9)
I pray this somehow helps many of you to release your precious children into the trustworthy hands of your heavenly Father, who loves our children even more than we do and will give them many opportunities to hear and to respond to the Biblical gospel message.
Also, never underestimate your roll as a father or mother in your child’s life. Some of our children have chosen to reach out in their search for love and approval from a parent, who is not emotionally or physically present in their homes, and seek it in ways contrary to God’s Word.
Unfortunately, many of us, from no fault of our own, are unable to be with our children on a daily basis. If this is true in your life, do not lose heart; continue to pray for them, and make the most of every opportunity you have with them. Reassure them of your love and concern for them in spite of the circumstances, and take time to really listen to them. Also, lovingly share God’s truth with them, applying it to every day circumstances, ‘making the most of every opportunity.‘
Now I would like to share some verses from God’s Word with you. I pray they will give you encouragement and direction in your lives, as you look for those teachable moments, using the every day happenings in life, so you can reach out to your precious children, and share His love and truth with them.
“Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15,16)
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)
“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” (Colossians 3:21)
“He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” (Proverbs 14:26)
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)
“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” (Deuteronomy 4:9)
“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: To believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:27-29)
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”(John 3:36)
“We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:9-13)
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all men– the testimony given in its proper time.” (1 Timothy 2:5)
No one has sinned so greatly that they cannot be forgiven by God –no matter how evil and heinous their sins/wrong actions may be! The apostle Paul, who was responsible for the deaths of many believers in Jesus Christ before his conversion, writes this under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:15-17)
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
When you have done all you know to do, trust God to do what He alone can do in their hearts.
[Introduction was updated on: 10/25/23, 10/28/23, & 10/29/23]
God Bless Each And Every One Of You : )
~Mary Dalke – Living4HisGlory
Living4HisGlory 