Once Upon A Time

“Once upon a time” is usually remembered in relation to fairy tale stories that parents read to their children. Today, it presents a horrible truth that is predicted in God’s word.  

 

Once upon a time Americans could send their children to movie theaters, shopping malls, grocery stores, etc. with the belief that they would return home safely. The current event of yet another movie theater shooting shows that this is no longer true. America is now experiencing what other countries around the world have realized for centuries. Evil does not have a specific location, religion, or color.

Jesus said that children are the future of the [spiritual] Kingdom, Matthew 19:14. In verse 13, parents brought their children to Jesus that He could pray for them. Thus, prayer must be important in the lives of children. Nevertheless, Christian organizations stood by while one person was allowed to remove prayer from schools.  

On the other hand, Yahovah, the only true and living God and Father of Jesus Christ, said parents are to raise up their children in the knowledge of Him, Deuteronomy 6:7, 11:19; Psalms 78:5-6, and Ephesians 6:4. Deuteronomy 6:7 in the Bible In Basic English version, reads: Teaching them [commandments of God] to your children with all care, talking of them when you are at rest in your house or walking by the way, when you go to sleep and when you get up. (BBE)     Parents—are you doing this? 

Why is this specific commandment of God so important? Apostle Paul points out the truth in 2 Timothy 3. Timothy walked a Godly path because he was taught about God from childhood. On the other hand, Apostle Paul shows the consequences in verses 1-8 of the refusal to obey God’s commandment about how to raise children.  

Point: Teaching children about God from childhood plants an unshakable foundation in that child that all of creation is valuable in God’s eyes—especially themselves.  When a child grows up loving God first, and secondly themselves, then they are able to love their neighbors rather than shoot them, Matthew 22: 37 – 40. 

Nevertheless, as a former product of not knowing God as a child, as shown in my book Mine: an everlasting promise of love, deliverance, and wholeness, by His mercy and everlasting love, I was redeemed.

Prayer works.