Today's Neglect Tomorrow's Emergency
What we neglect to teach today, we will have to teach tomorrow.
God's people are to be "fellow-workers for the truth," (3 Jno. 8). That calls
for the commitment of the individual to the truth God has revealed in His word.
It means in our work together in the local church, that truth must be our
standard. And the home needs to be a place where parents lead children to
believe and obey the truth.
In the absence of faithfully preaching and obeying the truth, what can happen?
The Bible identifies the consequences:
· "Tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of
doctrine," Eph. 4:14
· Being deceived "with persuasive words," and cheated "through philosophy and
empty deceit, according to the tradition of men," Col. 2:4,8
· Concerning "the faith," suffering "shipwreck," 1 Tim. 1:19
· Departing "from the faith," 1 Tim. 4:1
· Turning "aside to fables," 2 Tim. 4:4
It is our solemn undertaking as the people of God to give up no truth for any
man; to speak the truth in love, and teach the truth to the next generation.
Are we doing that? Are we faithfully engaged in the good work illustrated by
Lois and Eunice (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:14,16)? Are we teaching others "who will be able
to teach others also?" (2 Tim. 2:2).
Here's one way to focus our thoughts on this: What we
neglect to teach today, we will have to teach tomorrow!
Someone will teach our children about divorce. Who will it be? Will they learn
about divorce from their friends at school or the worldly portrayal of marriage
and remarriage on television? Or will they hear it first from you, as you tell
them: "whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries
another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits
adultery," (Matt. 19:9). What we neglect to teach today,
we will have to teach tomorrow!
What do your children know about the Holy Spirit? Do they know who the Holy
Spirit is and how He works through the Word (Eph. 6:17). Are we teaching the
next generation about the gifts of the Spirit, in their temporary role of
bringing to pass the New Testament volume? Do the young people where you worship
understand that the modern charismatic claims have no biblical foundation?
What we neglect to teach today, we will have to teach
tomorrow!
Have we just stopped teaching about the work of the local church? Are we raising
a generation without showing them what the New Testament says about the
advancing denominational approach, unity-in-diversity, the sponsoring church,
the social gospel, etc. Do our grandchildren understand that the things we learn
in the New Testament constitute a pattern, and that we must do these things for
the "God of peace to be with" us (Phil. 4:9). What we
neglect to teach today, we will have to teach tomorrow!
"Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the
things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of
your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren," (Deut. 4:9).
