September 9, 1976 saw the death of one of the Twentieth Century’s most brutal rulers. Mao Tse Tung (Ze Dong) whose remains are housed in a mausoleum in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square worked diligently for nearly thirty years to overthrow the Nationalist government found that the key to the hearts of the people is to be found in a nation’s youth and children. In 1966 Mao launched the Cultural Revolution by gaining the loyalty of Chinese students. Through the “Red Guards”, gangs of students, he shut down schools, churches, temples, museums, and any other cultural remnants of China’s old order. Untold thousands were tortured and/or killed who were perceived as being opposed to the policies of Chairman Mao.
Children are extremely open to being taught principles by which to live. Despots have long recognized that fact. Communists often boasted: “Give us your child for the first ten years of his life, and we’ll have him forever.
God instructed Moses to have the children learn about Him. We’re told in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, “Listen, The Lord our God is one Lord: and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all you soul, and with all your might. You must keep these words in your heart, and you must teach them diligently to your children and you shall talk about them continually as you go through life. Morning, evening, and night must be given over to so learning these truths, that they will be as clear as signs before your eyes. You must keep them in prominent places within your home, so they can be readily seen.”
God was telling us of the importance of learning truth and teaching it to our children. If our children learn God’s truth at an early age, and it becomes a vital part of their lives, even though they might be led temporarily astray, they will usually return to the God of their Youth.
As parents and grandparents, we must be diligent to see that our children receive the ongoing training they desperately need to succeed in this present age. If we don’t teach them God’s truth, the enemy will send a messenger to teach them the world’s error.
Purpose today to have your children and/or grandchildren in an environment where they can learn God’s truth. Be consistent. Be persistent. Make sure they are in a Bible teaching Church at every opportunity so that church becomes a way of life for them. Teach them daily of your trust and faith in God’s mercy.
Put away those things in your life which appear inconsistent, or incompatible with the life God calls you to live, so that your children will one day rise up and give thanks for your consistent lifestyle.
"As the pastor of Bay Springs Baptist Church, I thank you for dropping by our online home, hoping you will drop by in person on Sunday morning!"