Choices for Our Children

Hannah is an Old Testament Bible character who struggled daily because she had no child. In deep sorrow she went to the Lord in prayer and made a vow. She said if You “will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life…” 1 Samuel 1:11. The Lord blessed her with the birth of Samuel.  When Hannah took young Samuel to Eli the priest she said, “Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.” Verse 28.

Would you consider directing the life of your son this way? Perhaps deciding when your son is born that he will be a preacher of the gospel. From the moment of his birth you tell everyone, “My son will be a gospel preacher.”  As he grows you continually remind him of the plan you have for him. You read the Bible to him every day.  You have him spend time with godly men being taught the word of God.  In His teenage years you make arrangements for him to work in a church under the guidance of godly elders and evangelists who are committed to holiness. Finally the day comes when he is ready and he begins preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Many would say a parent should never decide such a thing for their child. “You can’t force religion on your child! This kind of decision has to be made by the child without the influence of a parent,” they say.  Yet many parents decide their child is going to excel in school and work diligently to place them in the best schools with the best teachers.  Or parents begin at an early age instructing their child in a sport, working with them every day, purchasing the services of a trainer, placing them on select teams and filling their extra time with the sport.

Why is raising a child to be a preacher of the gospel something to be avoided? Hannah is certainly commended for her choice for Samuel and Samuel was a great leader of God’s people.

What we need today are parents who simply decide that their children are going to grow up to be holy and righteous.  I don’t mean hoping that they will be holy and righteous but determining from the first day that they will be holy and righteous young men and women.  That’s what Timothy’s mother and grandmother did. Paul said to Timothy, “…from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ.” 2 Timothy 3:15.

If your child grows up to be holy and righteous, you’ll have to be holy and righteous.  You’ll need to be spending time with spiritual activities such as worship services, both scheduled and “extra-curricular,” Bible studies, sing praises to God, etc.  You’ll be selective in who your children are friends with. You’ll be careful about what they watch on TV and how much time they spend on the computer playing games or FaceBooking.  Sports, band, arts, and academics will not be the major focus of their life but will take second place to spiritual activities.

Someone might object saying that our children have to prepare themselves for a career.  Yes, our children need to make good grades and prepare themselves for life, but that is still secondary to their spiritual life.  Our responsibility before God is to raise spiritual children (Ephesians 6:4). By not making their spiritual life our number one priority, we neglect our God-given responsibility as parents.

Hannah is a great example. We may not dedicate our child’s life to God by determining he will be a preacher of the gospel, but we had better dedicate their life to the Lord and raise them accordingly. Oh, they may be an insurance salesman, a school teacher, a mechanic or enter some other line of work, but primarily they will be a holy and righteous servant of the Lord who places the Lord first, and secondarily whatever else they are in life.

Need help raising your children this way?  Please contact us if you feel we can help.

The Great Chilean Rescue

People all across the globe were riveted to their TVs Tuesday night waiting for the first of 33 miners to emerge from the rescue capsule. For many the rescue of the first man was quite an emotional experience.

A huge crowd gathered around the small opening that served as the life line and escape route for the miners. In the crowd were their rescuers, family and friends, employees of the mining company, the president of Chile, his wife and several others from the government. Surrounding that crowd were many from the media and through their cameras, the rest of the world looked on.

As the first miner emerged the huge crowd erupted into applause and cheers accompanied with tears of joy. Those reporting even gave in to their emotions just a bit as they chronicled the events of the evening. Those of us watching were silently cheering as well. I enjoyed the chants of the crowd as they expressed their national pride shouting, "Chi Chi Chi, le le le, Chile!" Everyone was overjoyed by the deliverance of the miners.

A Similar Picture From Scripture

"Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:10. Imagine a man trapped in sin. He is separated from God by his sin. Without a rescue he will perish in a Devil's hell. Some around him realize his desperate condition and tell Him about a Man who came to rescue him. They teach him of the love of God who sent His Son to pay the price for his sin so that he can avoid the destruction awaiting him.

As he learns more he develops his faith in Jesus. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6. He understands the need for repentance, a permanent change that must take place in his life so that his life will become like Jesus' life. "[God] commands all men everywhere to repent." Acts 17:30. He confesses His faith in Jesus. "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9. He responds in obedience by being baptized so that Jesus washes away his sins. "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." Acts 2:38

Looking on are God and Jesus Christ. With them are the angels in heaven, a huge crowd of heavenly host who want this man to be rescued and saved. When he responds, heaven erupts in joy over this sinner who has repented.

Conclusion

We are so glad that the men in Chile have been rescued and thank God for their safety. We need to realize how many of our friends are trapped in sin, perishing as we live next door to them, work with them, and interact with them socially. Will we help to bring joy to the huge crowd in heaven by opening our mouths and telling these lost ones about the saving grace of Jesus Christ? Let's busy ourselves with an even greater rescue mission that results in even greater joy.

The Bible Story

(Note: This is long but I believe it is important. The Bible is a unified story from cover to cover. It is hoped that this brief presentation of that story will encourage you to commit yourself to more Bible study. If you desire, I would be glad to spend time with you studying via email. I also have studies I can send via snail mail.)

Beginnings. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…” (Genesis 1:1). By simply speaking, God created the entire expanse of the universe. With each creative work He concluded that it was “good.” He focused His attention on one particular planet – earth.
On the earth He created living things, including mankind. Man was given the responsibility of caring for his new home with only one prohibition. “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2:17). Satan, the enemy of both God and man, tempted the woman to eat of that fruit. She gave it to her husband to eat as well, and they sinned before God. This resulted in their separation from the beautiful garden God had created for them, their separation from God (Isaiah 59:1,2), and their eventual physical death. The remainder of the Bible is devoted to remedying the sin problem upon the earth.

Their sin began to multiply. Because of jealousy, their oldest son killed his brother. By Genesis 6, we find God saying he “was sorry that He had made man.” (verse 6). Only because of one righteous man, Noah, did God spare the earth from total destruction. God saved Noah and his family by instructing them to prepare a large ship that carried them through the flood which engulfed the entire earth. Hebrews 11:7 tells us that Noah was saved by faith when he acted upon God’s commands.

In Genesis 12 we are introduced to Abraham, later known as the father of the faithful. Abraham was a righteous man selected by God to be “a great nation” and through his “seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:1; 22:18). Abraham’s grandson Jacob had 12 sons.

A Great Nation. Those 12 sons and their descendents became the promised great nation – Israel. Under the leadership of Moses, Israel was led out of Egypt to Mount Sinai where they received the Law, which included the Ten Commandments. Under that Law, God gave His temporary remedy for sin. For each sin committed, those under the Law had to offer an animal sacrifice. The blood of the animal served as an atonement for sin. Hebrews 10:1-4 tells us that animal blood was not a sufficient remedy for sin because each year the sins were remembered, requiring another offering.

Every nation needs a land. Just as God had said, Israel was given the Promised Land, an area much larger than that now occupied by modern day Israel. Joshua secured all the land Israel was promised. “So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it.” (Joshua 21:43).

Israel remained in the land for many years. The kingdom enjoyed tremendous prosperity during the days of David the king. Under his son Solomon, the kingdom was at peace. After the death of Solomon, the kingdom divided and both fragments ceased to be faithful to the Lord. In 721 B.C., the northern 10 tribes fell to Assyria. By 586 B.C., the southern tribes were captive in Babylon. It would seem that God’s plan to bless all nations had failed.

Prior to the captivity of the southern tribes, God had prophesied that they would return and possess the land once again (Jeremiah 29:10). God kept His promises and during the reign of Cyrus the Mead a decree was issued that Israel should return to rebuild and repossess their land. As Old Testament history closes there is promise of One to come and a time when “many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.” (Zechariah 2:11).

The Fullness Of Times. “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law…” (Galatians 4:4). At the opening of the New Testament, more than 400 years had passed since the last pages of Old Testament history were penned. Jesus was born to a virgin named Mary. At about age 30 He began to teach and preach saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:15).

Everything about Jesus failed to meet expectations. He was nothing special to behold and didn’t appear very kingly (Isaiah 53:2). His message excited folks for a time and He drew large crowds. But as the realities of His kingdom began to unfold, “from that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.” (John 6:66). The Jews had understood that the coming Messiah would establish an earthly kingdom and reign over men from Jerusalem. Jesus didn’t meet their expectations when He said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36). He certainly didn’t meet expectations when He told them He was to be crucified. Even his own apostles didn’t believe His message (Matthew 17:21,22).

The purpose of Jesus’ death would not be understood until several days later. On the night before He was crucified, Jesus told the apostles the purpose of His death. He said, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28). When you read of their despair in the days after His death, it is obvious they didn’t understand when He told them previously that He would “be killed, and be raised the third day.” (Matthew 16:21). They were not expecting His resurrection even though He had told them.

After His resurrection, Jesus “presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3). Jesus was more than a mere man. He was “declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (Romans 1:4).

The death of Jesus makes sense when we read Hebrews 9:15. “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” Finally, the remedy for man’s sin is accomplished.

Jesus is the “Seed” promised to Abraham who would bless all nations of the earth. (Galatians 3:16). Not only is salvation available to Jews, but now all men can now come to God for forgiveness of their sins. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:28,29). If we are in Christ then we, too, are Abraham’s seed. The key is being “in Christ.”

Remedy For My Sin. Are all men saved now that Jesus has died on the cross? Are all men now “Abraham’s seed”? How are my sins forgiven? The Bible story would not be complete without an answer to these questions.

Hebrews 5:9 says Jesus “became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Are all men saved now that Jesus has died? No. He is the author of salvation to those who obey Him. Those who do not obey are lost.

Who are “Abraham’s seed,” those of all nations who will be blessed by God? Galatians 3 says that those who are “in Christ” are the ones who are Abraham’s seed. How does one get into Christ? Galatians 3:26, 27 teaches, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” In order to get into Christ one must have faith in Him and be baptized into Him. These are the ones who have “put on Christ.” Only those who have faith in Him and have been baptized can claim to be “in Christ.”

Remember that Jesus said His blood was shed “for the remission of sins”? How are my sins forgiven? Let Jesus and His apostle Peter answer that question. Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16). When asked what to do to be saved the apostle Peter answered, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38). Jesus “is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” That obedience includes faith, repentance, and baptism. Nothing short of that will remedy the sin brought on the world by the first two who ever walked here.

Is the Bible story complete in your life? Jesus has accomplished His part. Let Him finish it for you. Come to Him in faith and be baptized for the remission of your sins. Can I help? If so, contact me today.