Love Them Enough

“For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach them to their children, That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children,  That they should put their confidence in God.”
                                                                                                – Psalm 78:5-7

It’s the call no parent ever wants to receive.  Just imagine, it’s late on a Friday night.  You’re up watching a movie with your wife and enjoying the quiet as the children have gone out with friends.  Looking at the clock you realize that it’s getting very late and you’re beginning to wonder what punishments await the kids when they get home from the game and dance.  You told them be home by 11 and it’s already 11:30.  They’re not answering their cell-phones and it causes your blood pressure to rise, wondering why you invested in the devices if they aren’t even going to use them.  Heading to the kitchen to get a refill on the popcorn, you hear the phone ring.  Well, at least they finally called.

You wait to hear your spouse lay into them with the chastisement and expectations for when they get home, but instead you hear a scream and hysterical cry.  Dropping the bowl, you rush back into the living room and find tears flowing and crying.  Suddenly, there is a lump in your throat, and fear races through your mind.  You take the phone from your spouse’s shaking hand and hold it to your ear.  On the other end is a sympathetic but stern voice.  You introduce yourself with a shaking in your tone, only to hear the person on the other end of the phone explain with deepest regrets that there has been an accident and both of your children have been killed, along with three other teenagers in their car.

Falling to your knees near your spouse, your heart falls and your hands shake.  They explain the details, and ask for you to come to the emergency room.  The police officer asks if there is a minister or priest they can call to meet you there.  Your mind races for a moment, and then you respond with the name of the Pastor at the local church you grew up in.  Hanging up the phone, you and your spouse fall into each other’s arms shaking, broken and lost in the anguish.
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Now, this is an unbelievably sad story that happens all too often to parents all over this globe.  As parents, we are given the responsibility to raise our children, love our children and protect them.  We spend our lives worrying about them and helping them overcome problems that arise through their growing years.  Yet, there comes the time when they must be able to stand on their own and we watch as they step out of the house potentially for the very last time.  We never expect it and fear that it could happen at any time. 

Tragic as this story is, I want you to look at it from a different perspective.  An eternal perspective.  Every one of us will die at some point in our life.  Often times, our children are taken long before their time for one reason or another.  Their life of choices, dreams, goals and adventures wiped out in an instant.  We love our children so much, and many of us would say right here and now, that we would give our own life to save our child’s life.  I know I would. 

My serious question for you all today though is, do you love your children and/or your spouse enough to ensure they have eternity in heaven?  Are you doing everything you can to educate them, to help them come to a relationship with Jesus Christ, or are you backing off to let them figure it out on their own?  Over the last month we have spent much of our time talking about evangelism to others, to the Muslim, the Atheist and the world; to share God’s love with them as He has shared it with us.  Yet, many of you cannot honestly go to bed tonight fully believing that your own children, spouse or parents are saved.  Before you go to the world, shouldn’t you focus on your own circle.

Your children are being influenced by this world if you aren’t doing it.  Are you okay with the world telling your child that there is no God or all God’s are the same or it doesn’t matter what you believe, just live a good life.  Living a good life is great, but if your child or spouse doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ, they are going to Hell after death.  I know it’s harsh, but if you claim to be a Christian, this is the truth as told by our Savior.  You can’t just sit back and do nothing.  That makes you somewhat culpable in their eternal fate. 

If you believe that they will come their own realization and that you don’t want to upset your relationship with them by bringing it up, then you have to look in the mirror and ask yourself why it’s not important enough to talk about with them.  You claim you love them more than anything, than I beg you, I plead with you, do something about it.  Here is how much I love you.  If for some reason you can’t have this conversation with them for one reason or another, than send me a private email or message me on Facebook; and I will.  Don’t let another day go by without addressing your child’s salvation.

Be Blessed,

Rich

 

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