Whats next?

I have been hearing from more and more people regarding their kids leaving the faith and claiming atheism. They wonder how this could be happening in Christian homes? The truth that we must ask is it really happening in Christian homes or is it happening in homes where they claim Christianity but in reality practice something completely different. IS Christ the center of the home or is He simply something they do when the church doors are open? The truth is that I cannot tell you that you are not living for Christ only He can tell you but if Satan is convincing you that you are fine then you have to look for tale tell signs. Kids will rebel and they will live their lives opposite of God's word but if they have grown up in a home where Christ is the head do you really think they would deny Christ? Look at Paul's words to Timothy in the book of 2nd Timothy chapter 1.

2Ti 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

There was an unfeigned faith in him which began in his mother and grandmother. The home was where Timothy had his faith instilled in him. The world around them was changing. The Gnostic church was rapidly growing and being of Greek heritage he would have had the education of the Greeks which is in intellectual thinking so it would have been easy to succumb to all of the outside influences that surrounded Timothy and yet he became Paul's right hand man on many occasions and the pastor of one of the churches started by Paul. So why did this young man not become a statistic? It was because of those at home who lived the life, not in word but in deed as well. It is easy for a child to be persuaded that something is not true when they do not have it constant in their lives. It is easy to believe a lie when there are no stones set aside as a reminder of what God had done in their lives. Many of us grew up being told that our fathers worked hard to provide us with the things we had, which may be true but it is not just him it was God through him. It was not our parents who provided the money for college but God who gives to all men liberally and yet we so often take the credit for what He has provided us. The very essence of our being is a gift from Him. He knew us before we were born and knows the depths of our hearts yet we deny Him in word and deed.

Throughout the wanderings of the Israelites God continually commanded them to build altars. Not just for their sake but also for the sake of their children so that they would be reminded of all the great things He had done for them. When they crossed the Jordan into the promise land God commanded Joshua to have a man from each of the tribes to carry stones to the place where they would camp to build an altar with so they would be reminded of when God brought them into the promise land. Through good kings and bad, through disobedience and denial these stones stood to remind them of the one true God and were the cause of surrender to Him over and over again. When they would see these altars in times of trouble they would be reminded of God's goodness and love for them. They were reminded of His provisions for them during the years in the wilderness and during their times of captivity. If these things were so important for them to remember do you not think that we should also remember the times He has been there for us and do you not think that we should build these same altars for our children so they can be reminded of His goodness. As a child if all of the things we have are because of our parents sacrifices then why should we see God as anything other than the crutch that the world tells us. After all He didn't provide for us growing up, our parents did. We might go to church but that is so that we can feel good about ourselves and not for Him. If we then deny His provisions then we deny His ability to provide and if He is not important to us as parents to give Him praise and glory for everything we have then it is easy to see how our children can deny His very existence later in life. If our children do not see our complete surrender to Him then why should they themselves surrender to a being whose only appearance is in a book that they are told is full of myths and stories. On a day to day basis they are faced with people who deny Christ and deny His word and they need to see Him through us the same amount of time if they are to continue in the faith when they are older. They may stray from it but they will not deny it completely. However we are a greedy people and we like to take credit for everything if it makes us look good. We have believed the lies of Satan who has convinced us that we do not need to live every minute of every day for Christ. We believe that we are good enough and as long as we go to church we are okay and our kids will be okay. We do not meet the needs of others whether in word or in deed. We look down on those who may be going through unfortunate times. We talk about others at church and about the man that God has given us to lead us. Our kids may receive love from us but they do not see us loving others. We are told in the Old Testament, "My people confess me with their lips but their hearts are far from me." The same is even more true today and the cost is even greater now.

2Ti 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2Ti 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Paul stirred up the remembrance in Timothy and I stir the same up in you to remember why we are called. It is not for ourselves but for Him. it is not so we become somebody but that He becomes everything and through us others will come to Him not for our glory but for His. We have limited the power of God long enough and it is time we redeem it. It is time that we acknowledge His creation and that we give Him the glory for all we have and maybe just maybe by our COMPLETE surrender He will pour His blessings out upon us and we can see the changes in our children.

I want to leave you with a thought. Why do we see so many kids who come from an unsaved family be more on fire for Christ than kids who come from a saved family? Think about it?