The Lord tells us, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
God is calling today for a reformation in our families as never before. The time is fast approaching for Christ’s second coming. What am I doing to prepare the way of the Lord? I ask myself this question and the answer is given by the pen of Inspiration: “There are a great many who seem to have a great burden to do missionary work; but I have thought that if such would only begin in their own households, it would be the very best thing they could do. Whenever you take up the duty that lies nearest you, then God will bless you, and hear your prayers. There are too many doing outside missionary work, while their own households are left destitute of any such efforts—going to ruin through neglect. They do not seem to understand that it should be their first work to take heed to home duties. The first missionary work is to see that love, light, and joy come into the home circle. Let us not be looking for some great temperance or missionary work to do until we have first done the duties at home. Every morning we should think, What kind act can I do today? What tender word can I speak? Kind words at home are blessed sunshine. The husband needs them, the wife needs them, the children need them. Now let us make a thanksgiving at home. . . . It ought to be the desire of every heart to make as much heaven below as possible.” 1
How wonderful it would be if we all performed our duties and responsibilities at home first! If we made heaven at home! The Lord has blessed me with two beautiful and wonderful children. He has entrusted me and my wife with educating them unto the Lord. It is our responsibility as parents to love them, discipline them, and teach them about Jesus Christ.
“Great is the responsibility of those who take upon themselves the guidance of a human soul. The true father and mother count theirs a trust from which they can never be wholly released. The life of the child, from his earliest to his latest day, feels the power of that tie which binds him to the parent’s heart; the acts, the words, the very look of the parent, continue to mold the child for good or for evil.” 2
My experience with my two young daughters so far has been that their minds are like sponges, ready to absorb every word we say and act we commit. When my wife and I least expect it, our older daughter is paying attention to what we are saying and will immediately respond with a question or comment. We did not realize she was listening to us. We quickly learned to be more careful about what we say and do.
Brothers and sisters, the Lord is calling for a reformation to begin in our own homes. The greatest mission ever given to mortals is that of fathers and mothers in rightly training and molding the minds and characters of their children. Their first duty is to their children. Nothing can excuse them from neglecting the inner circle for the larger circle outside. In the final day of reckoning, fathers and mothers will be asked what they said and did to secure the salvation of the souls they took upon themselves the responsibility of bringing into this world. Parents, what are we doing?
Our Lord Jesus Christ is our example in all things. As I began to pray for this study, my first question was “How did the parents of Jesus educate Him when He was a child?” We read that “the child Jesus did not receive instruction in the synagogue schools. His mother was His first human teacher. From her lips and from the scrolls of the prophets, He learned of heavenly things. The very words which He Himself had spoken to Moses for Israel He was now taught at His mother’s knee. As He advanced from childhood to youth, He did not seek the schools of the rabbis. He needed not the education to be obtained from such sources; for God was His instructor.” 3
“Jesus is our example. There are many who dwell with interest upon His public ministry, while they pass unnoticed the teaching of His early years. But it is in His home life that He is the pattern for all children and youth.” 4
Fathers and mothers, are we training our children to love the Lord? Are we teaching them from the Bible? Are we teaching them that Jesus Christ is coming soon? The Spirit of Prophecy asks, “Do you teach your children that Jesus is soon coming? Do you read to them the promise, ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also’? I began to teach my children about the love of Jesus when they were mere babes. I could not leave the work of training my children to the hands of servants. They were my first considerations.” 5
How early did Sister White begin her teaching? When her children were mere babes. As soon as a child can love and trust his mother, he can learn to love and trust Jesus as a Friend. In teaching our children, we must always tell them “Jesus loves you.” Jesus loves the little children, and we must teach them so.
God’s love should be taught in every lesson. From the child’s earliest years he should be aquainted with the things of God. Let the parents teach them about Christ’s life on earth. In The Signs of the Times, in an article entitled, “The Christian Mother a Coworker With God,” we read:
“Christian mothers should realize that they are coworkers with God when training and disciplining their children in such a manner as will enable them to reflect the character of Christ.” Please realize how the theme of every lesson should be Jesus Christ. We read further: “In this work they will have the cooperation of heavenly angels; but it is a work that is sadly neglected, and for this reason Christ is robbed of His heritage—the younger members of His family. But through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, humanity may be a coworker with divinity. The lessons of Christ upon the occasion of receiving the children, should leave a deeper impression upon our minds. The words of Christ encourage parents to bring their little ones to Jesus.” 6
Jesus says, “Train these children for Me, that they may shine in the courts of God.” 7
Oh, what a wonderful theme Jesus is! Let us not rob our children, no matter what age they may be, of the wonderful privilege of knowing Jesus Christ! Remember, we as parents will be held accountable if we are negligent of this great responsibility.
In their early years, children should be led to the footstool of prayer. Oh, how important is prayer in the home! Many families neglect family worship, and they dishonor God by doing so. I know I have been guilty of this. “The idea that prayer is not essential is one of Satan’s most successful devices to ruin souls. Prayer is communion with God, the Fountain of wisdom, the Source of strength, and peace, and happiness.” 8
“Prayer is the breath of the soul. It is the secret of spiritual power. No other means of grace can be substituted and the health of the soul be preserved. Prayer brings the heart into immediate contact with the Wellspring of life, and straightens the sinew and muscle of the religious experience. Neglect the exercise of prayer, or engage in prayer spasmodically, now and then, as seems convenient, and you lose your hold on God.” 9
Brothers and sisters, let us not lose our hold on God! Let us worship Him mornings and evenings. Let us gather ourselves and our children for family worship. Let us not continue to overlook the solemn appeal that the Lord is making today. The power of prayer is so great. It is our communion with Christ, and we should teach our children so. Christ gives the assurance that “in all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matthew 21:22). Let us believe in the power and promises of Christ! Paul bids us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The appeal today not only to parents but also to all of us is to pray to God and ask His guidance in educating our children unto the Lord. We all have the responsibility of training our young people and being an example unto them, as we follow Christ.
Brethren, let us not continue to delay the coming of the Lord. As parents, we need to humble our hearts before God. Let us pray for light and guidance, for a tender conscience, and for clear discernment that we may see our mistakes and failures. God will hear such prayers from a humble and contrite heart. It is not too late to begin anew with the Lord. Do not put it off one day, one hour. Tomorrow may be too late.
I believe this message is not only for parents, but for all church members. A church is composed of many families and we are all responsible for the unity of our families and the church. Let us work together in educating our young people for the Lord. This is the greatest work the Lord has bestowed upon us. How do we as parents treat the children that are not our own? Do we love and care for them as our own? Let us not lose our patience with these precious jewels. Let us be a positive influence to these children. Sometimes when we have our Bible stories here in front, I see how the Lord really has blessed this church with a good number of youngsters. Have we stopped to realize that they are the future of this church? Let us teach them in a caring and loving way.
It is important that we maintain discipline. We are told to “exact obedience in your family; but while you do this, seek the Lord with your children, and ask Him to come in and rule. Your children may have done something that demands punishment; but if you deal with them in the spirit of Christ, their arms will be thrown about your neck; they will humble themselves before the Lord and will acknowledge their wrong. That is enough.They do not then need punishment. . . . If your children are disobedient, they should be corrected. . . . Before correcting them, go by yourself, and ask the Lord to soften and subdue the hearts of your children and to give you wisdom in dealing with them. Never in a single instance have I known this method to fail.” 10
“The moment that a child begins to choose his own will and way, that moment his education in discipline is to begin.” 11
Let us remember what happened to Eli and his sons. The sin of Eli was in passing lightly over the iniquity of his sons, who occupied sacred offices. Eli’s neglect to reprove and restrain his sons brought upon Israel a fearful calamity. Eli’s sons were slain, Eli lost his own life, the ark of God was taken from Israel and thirty thousand people perished. All this was because sin was lightly regarded and allowed to remain among them.
Are we allowing sin to remain among our children? How much longer are we going to cover up their sins? Do we as parents want the same calamity to happen to us as it did to Eli? Remember, the children belong to the Lord first. He has entrusted us with their education.
“The work of the parent is seldom done as it should be. . . . Parents, have you studied parental government that you may wisely train the will and impulse of your children? Teach the young tendrils to entwine about God for support. It is not enough that you say, Do this, or, Do that, and then become utterly regardless and forgetful of what you have required, and the children are not careful to do your commands. Prepare the way for your child to obey your commands cheerfully; teach the tendrils to cling to Jesus. . . . Teach them to ask the Lord to help them in the little things of life; to be wide awake to see the small duties which need to be done; to be helpful in the home. If you do not educate them, there is one who will, for Satan is watching his opportunity to sow the seeds of tares in the heart.” 12
“Parents and children alike belong to God to be ruled by Him. By affection and authority combined, Abraham ruled his house. God’s word has given us rules for our guidance. These rules form the standard from which we cannot swerve if we would keep the way of the Lord. God’s will must be paramount. The question for us to ask is not: What have others done? What will my relatives think? Or what will they say of me if I pursue this course? but, What has God said? Neither parent nor child can truly prosper in any course excepting in the way of the Lord.” 13
Notice, brethren, there is no prosperity “excepting in the way of the Lord.” Not my will, but the Lord’s will. My will is human, it is full of sin. I of my own power can do nothing. I need to pray and ask for Jesus Christ to give me His power. I need to pray and ask the Lord to change my will for His. I need to pray, “Lord, let Thy will be done, not mine.” This should be our prayer in all decisions, not only in educating our children.
Parents, the hour is late. Is our family prepared? Church members, the Lord’s second coming is here. Is our church ready? When the Lord appears in the clouds of heaven, questions will be asked: “Fathers and mothers, how stands your record? Have you been faithful to your trust? As you have seen your children inclined to follow a course that you knew would result in impurity of thought and word and act, have you, first asking God for help, tried to show them their danger? Have you pointed out to them the peril of taking a path of their own choosing? Mothers, have you neglected your God-given work—the greatest work ever committed to mortals? Have you refused to bear your God-given responsibilities?” 14
“Parents who have neglected their God-given responsibilities must meet that neglect in the judgment. The Lord will then inquire, ‘Where are the children that I gave you to train for Me? Why are they not at My right hand?’ Many parents will then see that unwise love blinded their eyes to their children’s faults and left those children to develop deformed characters unfit for heaven. Others will see that they did not give their children time and attention, love and tenderness; their own neglect of duty made the children what they are.” 15
May the Lord help us that we can answer our Saviour with “Here are the children that Thou hast entrusted to me to educate and train for Thy service. Thy will be done.”
Our young people need encouragement. Now is our chance to labor for them. Tomorrow may be too late. Jesus is coming, coming in the clouds and with great glory. Heaven is worth everything to us, is it not? We cannot afford to run any risk in this matter. We must take no venture here in this world. May God help us in the great work of overcoming. He has a crown waiting for each of us and a white robe of righteousness with which to clothe us. Do we wish to give up these for the things of this world? Ask yourself, is it worth it? Jesus Christ will be there at the gates of heaven welcoming everyone who enters, saying, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew 25:34, 21).