“If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world… (John 5:19a NASB)
There was a time, back in the day, when children played a variety of things, including church, because that was part of their acculturation, a prelude to their adult participation with a local house of God. That was back “then.” “Then,” children had to be creative, be more social, and had to write without the advantage of spellchecking. “Then,” Sunday mornings meant getting up, getting ready, and getting to church, walking or riding with Mom and, get this now, with Mom and Dad or the adult heads of the house in which they resided. “Later,” after advancing through formal educational institutions, the same children, who had become adults, helped shape the world. “Now,” unfortunately, it seems to have gone counterclockwise, reverse. For the world is shaping our children, re-writing norms, revealing new “high” standards that or really low, withdrawing from the wise morale standards of past times, ranking wrong as right, unconscious, unaware, or uninformed of the fact that wrong is still wrong and wrong is still wrong. “Now,” this age is pushing many to the point that they have forgotten Rock of Ages.
Back when, talking about “then,” the fleshly souls of young people did not have as many options as they do today; options that cause today’s young people to stray. “Later,” that generation that was once “then,” would adopt a work ethic that was not just based on the need to survive, but the desire to rise higher economically and spiritually. “Now,” a variety of options, managed by the mastermind of evil, Satan, one who manipulates many more minds compared to back “then” in multiple ways is a solid barrier to young people coming to the Master.
How do we combat the negativity of “now,” that which has been presented as the positive and is being accepted, not by all but by many? I guess we can start with training our children, not only when they are of a young, impressionable age, but as long as they live their adult lives in our homes. Yes, we must impress upon them the incomparable difference it makes when you have the Incarnate Christ in your life. “Now” is not the time for us to be among the adults who embrace the changed norms; norms that are not normal, nor pleasing in the sight of God. The Bible is full of ways to combat the drifting away from godly principles. The Book of Hebrews addresses drifting in a thorough way. Check it out for yourself. Just in case you are too busy, I included two extracts from the word of God, one above, and two below.
“Now” is the time to live up to our identity. I wonder if anyone reading this said, “Amen!” Have a contemplating, concerned Saturday, thinking on these things that I have put in front of your eyes. My they travel to a destination called “Your Heart.” Tomorrow, lead your household to where the saints assemble. Be blessed!
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste (purpose), how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and walked on by people [when the walkways are wet and slippery]. You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16 The Amplified Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King