It was a warm and sunny day last summer and we had taken the girls down to the beach. After receiving the normal cautions about water safety, the girls were off to play in the water. While the water was not deep, every so often we’d make a check to see if the two heads were still visible.
All was well until we heard a commotion over by one of the lifeguards. A mother had lost track of her little boy and was anxiously crying out for help. Quickly an announcement was made for all swimmers to get out of the water. But no little boy appeared. We could feel the mother’s anguish as we clutched our little girls.
Then came the announcement from the lifeguard — all adults hold hands and start walking into the water. We felt sick; this was the last resort. The water was too muddied to see anything so the only chance was to stumble over the body while there would still be time to revive him.
Just as the human chain was advancing into the water, the little boy appeared. He had gone to the snack bar without telling his mother. We were so relieved. How tragic it would have been if he had drowned.
Drowning in the world
Even though that incident had a happy ending, something about it has stayed with me. The evil that is around us is like the warm water which appeals to our children. How sad it would be to lose one of our children in the murky darkness of the world — to see a child spiritually drown. It’s too bad there isn’t a large warning sign so our youngsters would know danger is near.
The scriptures speak of the world as if it were an evil person trying to draw us and our children into sin. The world calls to our children through TV, the radio, books and those who are “or’ the world. It glamorizes drugs, violence, immorality and greed.
We would do all we could to keep our children from drowning, but what are we doing to keep them from drowning in the world?
Talk about the Bible
One major thing we can do is stated in Deuteronomy 6:6-7: “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
We help ourselves and our children by regularly teaching Bible lessons. We remember what we have read by talking about it right at home. Obviously we can’t be reading the Bible with our children all day long, but we certainly can discuss biblical topics with them as often as possible.
Keep the Bible in view
Those plaques that are in most of our homes are also helpful. They put Bible verses or sayings in front of us so we are reminded of them. They are the modem day equivalent of the blue border Israel had on their garments to remind them of God’s commands.
The kings of Israel were supposed to set a good example for the rest of the nation. To help them do this, they were commanded to write out their own copy of the law and read from it every day (Deut. 17:18-20). As parents, we need to lead our children by direction and example. In our case, we don’t have to write out our own Bible but we do need to read from it daily. Daily reading will also help us answer the questions that our children ask, such as why we believe as we do.
Teach them what is important
When David was ready to die, he gave Solomon instruction: “Keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes” (I Kgs. 2:3). David placed his emphasis on serving God because he knew the world has nothing of lasting value. We need to keep the same emphasis clear in our children’s minds.
Solomon was to learn that his father’s emphasis was right. After accomplishing about everything that he could in this world, Solomon found that it was “all vanity and vexation of spirit” (Eccl. 2:11). His conclusion was virtually an echo of his father’s earlier advice: “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13).
Supply helpful friends
We need to stress the importance of our children’s closest friends being in the Truth and we need to help them get together as often as possible. This is important when they are young and it’s critical in their teen years when the world has its greatest pull.
All of the occasions when we can get them together are important -meetings, Sunday School, CYC, overnight visits or just families getting together. Many a person is thankful when they look back and see what their own parents did for them in this regard. It may take a lot of driving and it may mean letting them have the car soon after they can drive, but it is a very important part of saving them from the world and its influences.
Setting an example of enthusiasm
What kind of example do we set our children when it comes to our attitude toward the Truth and its related activities? Is the Truth really important to us, not just on Sunday, but all during the week? What forms the basis of most of our conversations? What do we spend the most time thinking and doing?
Children watch us, they listen and they will copy us. If we want them to put the Truth first, then we have to do it. We may not be able to attend every ecclesial function, but if the Truth is important to us, we will be there almost every time. They see if we are making lame excuses. And they notice if we are on time for work and school but never on time for Sunday School. It’s teaching them our priorities by our actions. What we need to have is a good positive attitude toward the Truth for them to follow.
What is remarkable is the enthusiasm they can develop for the things of the Truth. We may have trouble getting enthused about the annual Sunday School program. But ever since the preparations started, our girls have been constantly singing the songs for the program around the house. And the other day, our oldest daughter asked if Rahab would be in the kingdom. When I told her Hebrews 11 tells us she will be, her response was, “Good, because I want to tell her that I acted out her part in our play.”
We would do anything within our power to keep our youngsters from drowning in the lake; let’s make sure we never let them drown in the world.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One