The Highest Vocation
(F. T. Wright)
Picture: The Highest Vocation
There does not exist a more important occupation, a greater responsibility, a higher calling, a more vital gospel ministry, or more essential work for God than parenthood. There is no emperor of vast domains, sovereign of a powerful empire, or president of a great democracy whose position is greater or more important than that occupied by parents.
The great men of the past and the present who are credited with shaping history and who are lauded for their achievements, are not the ones to whom such glory is attributable. They are what they are, be it good or bad, by virtue of what their parents made them. The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. Earthly potentates are nothing without the power of the masses to support them and carry out their ambitious schemes. Whether those men of might can manipulate society or not depends on the character of the individuals making up that society. A truly righteous nation will never obey a wicked ruler, nor will an evil race serve a just leader. Every nation has its own unique character which is the product of the generations that preceded and molded it.
"What the parents are, that, to a great extent, the children will be. The physical conditions of the parents, their dispositions and appetites, their mental and moral tendencies, are, to a greater or less degree, reproduced in their children.
"The nobler the aims, the higher the mental and spiritual endowments, and the better developed the physical powers of the parents, the better will be the life equipment they give their children. In cultivating that which is best in themselves, parents are exerting an influence to mold society and to uplift future generations.
"Fathers and mothers need to understand their responsibility." The Ministry of Healing, 371.
Parents who do understand their responsibility will make the task of saving and training their offspring their first and highest occupation. Everything else will be secondary to this charge. For most parents, especially fathers, this will call for a realignment of priorities. The man of the house cannot escape the requirement to provide a living for his family, but instead of that being his prime interest, he will see it only as a means to achieving his real goals in life--children fit for time and eternity. His mind will be forever preoccupied with considerations of how he can most successfully accomplish this work, not on how to ensure that his business ventures will return a large profit.
Encouragement for parents to succeed is provided in Bible histories of great statesmen, prophets, teachers, and leaders--men who not only turned their own generation in the right direction, but whose influence for good is still influencing God's true people.
"Sacred history presents many illustrations of the results of true education. It presents many noble examples of men whose characters were formed under divine direction, men whose lives were a blessing to their fellow men and who stood in the world as representatives of God. Among these are Joseph and Daniel, Moses, Elisha, and Paul--the greatest statesmen, the wisest legislator, one of the most faithful of reformers, and, except Him who spoke as never man spake, the most illustrious teacher that this world has known." Education, 51.
Joseph and Daniel, the world's two greatest statesmen, were removed from their homes at an early age and were thrust into a totally unchristian environment in which they were subjected to the severest of temptations. What enabled them to preserve their integrity?
It was what their parents had built into them through the proper discharge of their sacred responsibilities. These young men were first initiated into a true new birth experience, and then thoroughly trained in the principles of righteousness.
There is positive proof that Joseph had been blessed with the new birth at any early age long before he was sold into slavery. But, before examining the evidences confirming that Joseph was indeed born again, we must be certain that all who read these words understand that to be born again is much more than the forming of changed beliefs, loyalties, and habits of life. While all these will be involved, they can be present without the person becoming a true child of God through the process of spiritual re-birth. For instance, if a Roman Catholic were to change to Communism, he would surely have different beliefs, other loyalties than before, and a greatly altered habit pattern or way of life, but he certainly would not be born again in the spiritual sense. The very fact that he had become a Communist proves that, for Communism is an enemy of Christianity.
No one has been reborn until the creative power of God has eradicated from within him the old man who is the outgrowth of Satan's evil seed, and has received the seed of Christ in return. No modification or improvement of the old life will pass for this. There has to be the commencement of a new life altogether within the person.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17.
"Jesus continued: 'That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.' By nature the heart is evil, and 'who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.' Job 14:4. No human invention can find a remedy for the sinning soul. 'The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.' 'Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.' Romans 8:7; Matthew 15:19. The fountain of the heart must be purified before the streams can become pure. He who is trying to reach heaven by his own works in keeping the law is attempting an impossibility. There is no safety for one who has merely a legal religion, a form of godliness. The Christian's life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether. This change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit." The Desire of Ages, 172.
The description given by Inspiration of the religious experience and character of Joseph shows that he was in fact a new creation. Old things had passed away, and all things had become new. Of him while still but a lad in his father's tents it is written:
"There was one, however, of a widely different character--the elder son of Rachel, Joseph, whose rare personal beauty seemed but to reflect an inward beauty of mind and heart. Pure, active, and joyous, the lad gave evidence also of moral earnestness and firmness. He listened to his father's instructions and loved to obey God. The qualities that afterward distinguished him in Egypt--gentleness, fidelity, and truthfulness--were already manifest in his daily life." Patriarchs and Prophets, 209.
Picture: The new birth is the beginning of a new spiritual life altogether and not the modification or improvement of the old life.
This paragraph begins with a contrast being made between Joseph and his brothers. The description given of them in the previous paragraphs shows that they lacked the inner transformation which attends the eradication of the old life and the implantation of the new. It is written of them that they "...had grown up contentious, and impatient of control, and the father's life was darkened with anxiety and grief." Patriarchs and Prophets, 209.
Born again children do not darken their parents' lives with anxiety and grief, for theirs is a submissive and selfless spirit. Joseph was unlike them. His was "...a widely different character...." He possessed "...an inward beauty of mind and heart", gave "...evidence also of moral earnestness and firmness", and he "...loved to obey God". Thus it is evident that he had the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and was filled with the beautiful spirit of obedience. There can be no doubt about his being a new creature in Christ Jesus, for, in him was Christ, the hope of glory.
It is imperative that continual stress be laid on the truth that both the new birth and effective training must be combined to ensure that the child does grow up in the way he should go. Either one without the other cannot bring true success especially if the new birth is the missing element. In that case even the very best of training will be like bestowing the finest care on a thorn bush in the hope of producing good fruit. On the other hand, achieving the new birth without follow-up training, is the same as planting a good grape vine and then leaving it unattended and uncared for to battle choking weeds, to branch out in a tangled mess on the ground, to be unprotected from searing drought, and to be deprived of vital nutrients.
The fact that Joseph became one of the two greatest statesmen of all time, declares that he was given by his godly father, Jacob, a very effective training to complement his initiation into the family of Christ. Unfortunately, his mother Rachel died when Joseph was very young, but not before she left a permanent influence for good on his infant mind.
Regarding the training that he gladly received from his father it is written:
"He listened to his father's instructions, and loved to obey God." Patriarchs and Prophets, 209.
"In his childhood, Joseph had been taught the love and fear of God. Often in his father's tent, under the Syrian stars, he had been told the story of the night vision at Bethel, of the ladder from heaven to earth, and the descending and ascending angels, and of Him who from the throne above revealed Himself to Jacob. He had been told the story of the conflict beside the Jabbok, when, renouncing cherished sins, Jacob stood conqueror, and received the title of a prince with God.
"A shepherd boy, tending his father's flocks, Joseph's pure and simple life had favored the development of both physical and mental power. By communion with God through nature and the study of the great truths handed down as a sacred trust from father to son, he had gained strength of mind and firmness of principle." Education, 52.
The end result of this combination of being born again at a very early age and proper parental training was a man of tremendous moral and spiritual stamina, a leader who showed himself able to stand unmoved by the fiercest temptations both in hours of adversity and prosperity.
"In the bitter life of a stranger and a slave, amidst the sights and sounds of vice and the allurements of heathen worship, a worship surrounded with all the attractions of wealth and culture and the pomp of royalty, Joseph was steadfast. He had learned the lesson of obedience to duty. Faithfulness in every station, from the most lowly to the most exalted, trained every power for highest service." Education, 52, 53.
Joseph made a tremendous contribution to the advancement of God's cause. The world would have been an immeasurably poorer place but for his ministry. The heights to which he attained, the exalted position of responsibility and power to which he was elevated, the remarkable influence for good that he wielded, and the glorious service he rendered to God, to Israel, and to Egypt, assures us that his name will be remembered forever.
Let it never be forgotten that he was what he was and achieved what he did because of what his parents made him. He was not the product of a good fortune that assembled just the right combination of genes, but was the natural result of correct principles diligently and skillfully applied. Any set of parents who give their offspring what Joseph's parents gave him, will see the same results being achieved. What a thrilling prospect for young married men and women today.
"The same mighty truths that were revealed through these men, God desires to reveal through the youth and the children of today. The history of Joseph and Daniel is an illustration of what He will do for those who yield themselves to Him and with the whole heart seek to accomplish His purpose." Education, 57.
These magnificent men became what they were because their parents did not squander their opportunities through indifference, ignorance, neglect, or preoccupation with other interests. There is the time and the opportunity to do things for the infant when he is first conceived that can never be done so effectively at a later date. During the pre-natal period, foundations are being laid for good or for evil that will do much to determine the entire future of the unborn child. Let those days of opportunity pass and the loss can never be wholly recovered. Parents must realize this so that they do not let a single day's opportunity pass by unused.
At the same time, care must be taken to ensure that anxiety and stress do not build up for fear that we are failing to do the best that is expected of us. Learn what must be done, be earnest, diligent, and responsible in doing it, and then utterly and completely rest in the Lord. There is no other way.
Daniel, the other of the two greatest statesmen in human history, is another illustration of what God expects parents to build into their children. "...Joseph and Daniel proved themselves true to the principles of their early training, true to Him whose representatives they were. These men, both in Egypt and in Babylon, the whole nation honored; and in them a heathen people, and all the nations with which they were connected, beheld an illustration of the goodness and beneficence of God, an illustration of the love of Christ." Education, 56, 57.
Daniel is an example of particular interest to those of us who live in these last days of earth's history, for the same conditions and requirements are now being repeated. Daniel lived at a time when Israel had sunken into deep apostasy and Babylon had arisen to world domination.
Rapidly today, the development of the same conditions is approaching full completion. The professed churches of God have sunken into deep apostasy, while the papacy is increasing in power and favor every day. Already, efforts are being put forth in some countries, by combined Catholic and Protestant organizations, to enforce the abolition of Sunday sport. While the masses are not yet ready to accept this, the time will come when they will.
But, when Israel of old departed totally from the truth, the Lord had a tiny remnant of youthful people who would "...not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls" were "true and honest, men who" did "not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience" was "as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who" stood "for the right though the heavens fall." Education, 57. Daniel and his three companions, as Joseph was before them, were just those kind of men. Nothing less than what they were was needed in that critical hour to halt the Babylonian king in his inexorable march to absolute rulership of the world. So great had been his success that all the world was under his dominion except the Lord's true church, which, in his court, numbered but four youthful souls. There were other faithful believers in the city and kingdom, but they were in no position to do battle with the king.
The confrontations between the mighty king and the youthful four would appear to any observer who did not understand the awesome power of God in consecrated Christians, to be so totally in favor of the king that there was no hope of the children of God achieving anything. But, it was not so. In every battle that was fought between Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, the Lord was the victor. God's way was shown to be the only way in every instance.
Picture: Daniel successfully demonstrated the superiority of God's way in diet to the Babylonian way.
The first issue involved the nature of the food and drink to be consumed and the supposedly added merit in its being offered to idols. Under God's blessing, it was demonstrated that the wholesome food blessed by the Creator provided far better nourishment for body and brain than did the diet of the Babylonians.
So confident was the king in his educational system and in what he believed to be the superior intellectual powers of his people, that, in the examinations at the end of three years, he expected a much lower score for the Jewish youth than for the Chaldeans. But, to his astonishment, four of the Hebrews were found to be ten times better than any other scholars no matter where in the world they came from.
Then followed the dream in which the king saw the multi-metal image. What an issue that grew to be! The king, despite the earlier victories awarded the Hebrews, would not admit their superiority, but turned to his own so-called wise men for the dream and its interpretation. Their confessed inability to serve him in his great hour of need exposed the fearful deficiencies in the vaunted Babylonian system. Then, Daniel and his three friends were able to demonstrate that, in God's perfect system, there are no limitations. The God of heaven does dwell with His people, is in communication with them, and so reveals his secrets to them.
The outcome of this trial of strength was so convincingly in favor of Jehovah that Nebuchadnezzar was constrained to bow down and give an unqualified acknowledgment of his Creator's infinite superiority. It was an incredible outcome.
But the mighty Nebuchadnezzar who had the wealth and power of the world at his disposal, was not one to surrender the struggle easily. Although he had acknowledged that Jehovah alone had the power he had fancied was resident in the Babylonian system, in his pride he found this hard to accept. As a statement of his total rejection of what he had earlier confessed, he ordered the construction of the golden image. By using only one metal in the idol, he was declaring that Babylon would never pass away, that there was no force in heaven or on earth that could deliver anyone out of his power.
Again he was forced to confess how wrong he was and became a truly converted Christian.
"King Nebuchadnezzar, before whom Daniel so often honored the name of God, was finally thoroughly converted, and learned to 'praise and extol and honor the King of heaven.' " The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 4:1170.
What a glorious achievement that was! Matching it today would require a small band of young men in whom was formed Christ the hope of glory, to enter the Vatican and effect the genuine conversion of the present Pope of Rome. Such youth would have to be as highly qualified, and as filled with the wisdom and power of God as Daniel and his companions were. That would be possible if the young men involved had been born again from their earliest moments and had been trained according to God's ways and wisdom thereafter.
There is not a great deal of information given us in regard to the family from which Daniel came and the education he received from his parents. I have not even been able to find the names of his father and mother. However, enough has been told to make clear that he was both born again from a very early age and blessed with the best of Christian education. In other words, he was what his parents made him. When he was conceived and during the eighteen years between his birth and his being taken into captivity, they had no idea of the tremendously significant role he was to play in Babylon where he was to achieve what the whole nation of the Jews had been commissioned to do. Yet, they gave him the best that they had.
There is good reason to believe that the message on child salvation was understood and taught by the prophet Jeremiah. To this remarkable prophet, the Lord testified, "...before you were born I sanctified you...." Jeremiah 1:5.
To be sanctified is to be made holy. This is only possible if the person is delivered from the old man which is the unholy or unsanctified nature, and to be filled with the life of Jesus which is to be made holy or sanctified. Thus Jeremiah like John the Baptist after him, was blessed with the new birth from his earliest moments.
This prophet began his ministry "...in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign." Jeremiah 1:1. He continued his work till the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah.
Twenty-one years separated the beginning of Jeremiah's ministry from the third year of Jehoiakim's reign, the year that Daniel was carried captive to Babylon. "Daniel was but eighteen years old when brought into the heathen court in service to the king of Babylon...." Testimonies for the Church 4:570. Therefore, Jeremiah began his ministry three years before Daniel was born.
His worked combined two ministries. One was the conveyance of stern messages of warning and reproof to the apostate king, priests, and rulers. The other was the preaching of the gospel to the scattered remnant who loved the truth in righteousness. It is with the second that we will concern ourselves today because it was by this means that Daniel and his three friends received the qualifications to wage war successfully with the Babylonian monarch. Of that ministry it is written:
"Like sweetest music these promises of deliverance fell upon the ears of those who were steadfast in their worship of Jehovah. In the homes of the high and the lowly, where the counsels of a covenant-keeping God were still held in reverence, the words of the prophet were repeated again and again. Even the children were mightily stirred, and upon their young and receptive minds lasting impressions were made." Prophets and Kings, 427.
One would expect that the names of four of those children were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The last three are better known by their Babylonian names but these were not given to them until they reached the city of their captivity. The assumption that these four were very responsive listeners to Jeremiah's messages is confirmed in the paragraph which follows the one quoted above.
"It was their conscientious observance of the commands of Holy Scripture, that in the days of Jeremiah's ministry brought to Daniel and his fellows opportunities to exalt the true God before the nations of earth. The instruction these Hebrew children had received in the homes of their parents, made them strong in faith and constant in their service of the living God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth." Prophets and Kings, 428.
The instruction that Daniel and his fellows received in their Judean homes did not come from Jeremiah alone. Having known by experience the living power present in an individual who has been sanctified before he was born, he could, and we can feel certain did teach the principles of child salvation to the parents. As they grasped and were inspired by this marvelous message, they were able to give their little ones the start in life that every child should have, and, in turn, followed this with dedicated and skillful training.
"Daniel and his companions had been faithfully instructed in the principles of the word of God. They had learned to sacrifice the earthly to the spiritual, to seek the highest good. And they reaped the reward. Their habits of temperance and their sense of responsibility as representatives of God called to noblest development the powers of body, mind, and soul. At the end of their training, in their examination with other candidates for the honors of the kingdom, there was 'found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.' Daniel 1:19." Education, 55.
Let it never be forgotten however, that each of those men were what their parents made them. There were none like them because none of the others had been sanctified before he was born, nor had subsequently received the training that these youths had received. Without being born again it was impossible for them to be rightly trained anyway.
Every young person today who contemplates marriage, or has already married, should be deeply grateful to the Lord that He has sent us such wonderful light on how to raise children of the quality and caliber of Joseph and Daniel. We are facing the soon coming day when once again Babylon will rule the world. All will bow down and serve the potentate of all potentates, except for the valiant band who know their God and will stand erect and fearless in the presence of every and any earthly power.
We have considered only two of the many mighty Bible characters whose achievements are the results of what their parents made them. There is not the space to study more of them here, but every Christian today, especially if he or she is a young parent or one yet to be, must spend much time in deep and extensive study of these lives and of the parents behind the scenes who made them what they were.
Great will be the inspiration, faith, and courage that such a study will afford. Mothers and fathers will see as never before what they can give their children. They will realize in very truth that there is no other profession to compare in importance with parenthood, and will thus be led to sacrifice every other interest that would detract from this supreme responsibility. Being president or prince may bring fame, power, and riches, but what are these compared to seeing your children possessed of sound physical constitutions, tremendous intellectual power even to ten times that possessed by their worldly counterparts, moral stamina, inward righteousness, joy in the truth, the lovely spirit of obedience, and a place in the kingdom.
Parents, if you achieve nothing more in life than these achievements, for what more could you ask? There is no other profession to equal parenthood. Make the most of it!

Your Questions Please
QUESTION:
We understand that the ideal is for children to be sanctified from their earliest moments, but, for so many of us, the message announcing the possibility of this, and the way it is to be achieved came much too late. Our children are now advancing toward their teens and their independence. Growing up under the dominion of sin, they have developed undesirable habit patterns, have a cultivated taste for the pleasures of sin, and have very little if any relish for spiritual things. The spirit of disobedience is firmly established in them and grows stronger by the day. What can be done to bring salvation to these precious souls before it is forever too late?
ANSWER:
The questioner correctly recognizes that every day which passes from the moment of conception onwards, without the youngster being born again, more firmly establishes the growing child in the kingdom of darkness and makes less likely the possibility of his walking in God's ways. It is of paramount importance that God's saving grace be imparted to the little one as early as possible.
The realization that that which is not achieved by a certain age can never fully be gained later has been recognized for years by at least some educators, whereas all too many parents have been captive to the delusion that nothing can be done for babes by way of discipline or training until they have reached an age when they can reason for themselves. This unfortunate misconception has led parents to endure very bad childhood behavior on the assumption that there was no alternative.
For instance, a number of years ago, a mother took her five year old son to a child psychologist. She sought help because the child had become completely unmanageable. She poured out her tale of woe and appealed to him for help. In reply he asked:
"How old is he?"
On being informed that the brat was five he declared:
"Madam, you have brought him here five years too late."
The Roman Catholic church has made the claim that if they have the child for the first seven years of his life, then they have him forever. I would not for one moment challenge this statement, for it is all too true. Only the living power of the gospel can break the chains formed in this early training.
But despite the late start that needs to be made in the cases of those who are approaching their adolescence without the mighty blessing of being born again, the situation is not hopeless. Parents do not need to abandon these cases to the enemy. There is much that can be done, but, it must be done carefully, diligently, and thoroughly. The matter must not be rushed but must be done when the time is right. Better to let the children continue in Satan's kingdom a few days longer while thorough preparation is being made and success is thus much better assured, than to rush in and close the door forever by precipitous actions.
So, where is the work to be commenced for children in this age group?
Let the parents begin by making a thorough study of the gospel. So many have listened to the living presentations of the message without ever really making it a truly personal experience. Even if they have, it requires a greater depth of understanding to enable a person to effectually minister the gospel to the lost and dying. It is when you are called upon to teach the truth to others that you discover if you really know it yourself. Every parent is called upon to do this, the lost and dying being their own children. So, read and re-read the books in which the gospel is fully explained. Plead with God on your knees for deeper and broader views of the truth until your whole being is charged with a heavenly current that will connect you with divinity. Then, the life which you have received from God, you can in turn impart to others.
In your study of the gospel, concentrate especially on how it is to be applied to the children. Become inspired with hope, power, and confidence as you see the potential for the message revealed in the childhood and subsequent manhood of Jesus. Spend a lot of time contemplating the birth, infancy, boyhood, youth, and adulthood of Jesus until your soul thrills with the conviction that your children can receive the same blessings and become the same power for good.
Never lose sight of the fact that "God is the Teacher of His people." Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 478.
Therefore plead with Him to make His truth very plain and clear to your minds. At the same time, intercede for the children. At first, you will see no visible response and in fact may see a worsening of their spirit and behavior. It was not uncommon for the evil spirit to give a final powerful demonstration of his authority when the Saviour commanded it to depart.
If there is one lesson I have learned this year it is that we must never let go of the Lord, but must continue to pray even though every indication is that the mighty Advocate is disinterested in our petitions, and the situation for which we are praying is rapidly deteriorating. That is the time to lift the hand of faith higher and still higher refusing to let go of the arm of Omnipotence until the prayer is heard and answered.
"I asked the angel why there was no more faith and power in Israel. He said, 'Ye let go of the arm of the Lord too soon. Press your petitions to the throne, and hold on by strong faith. The promises are sure. Believe ye receive the things ye ask for, and ye shall have them.' I was then pointed to Elijah. He was subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly. His faith endured the trial. Seven times he prayed before the Lord, and at last the cloud was seen. I saw that we had doubted the sure promises, and wounded the Saviour by our lack of faith. Said the angel, 'Gird the armor about thee, and above all take the shield of faith; for that will guard the heart, the very life, from the fiery darts of the wicked.' If the enemy can lead the desponding to take their eyes off from Jesus, and look to themselves, and dwell upon their own unworthiness, instead of dwelling upon the worthiness of Jesus, His love, His merits, and His great mercy, he will get away their shield of faith and gain his object; they will be exposed to his fiery temptations. The weak should therefore look to Jesus, and believe in Him; they then exercise faith." Early Writings, 73.
Powerful, consistent, and constant intercessory prayer for the boys and girls who are facing adolescence is essential. It prepares the way for the interview and instruction which is to come in due time. Even though the children are not yet born again, they can be mightily influenced by the faithfilled prayers of consecrated parents.
As long as I live, I shall never forget the saving influence of my mother's prayers as I was entering into my teens. I was determined to go out and live a worldly life. I actually went looking for temptation and I desired to taste the pleasures of sin.
But so powerful were my mother's prayers that I was actually protected from doing what I was so determined to do. Soon, I became aware that she was praying for me even though I never saw nor heard her doing it. I literally felt those prayers. It was an awesome restraining influence in my life. Time after time, I found myself unaccountably refusing to enter into the very sins that I had sought. I was not at that time a born-again Christian nor did I become one for over ten more years, yet those prayers worked for me just the same. Even though it took over ten years before my conversion was finally achieved, I know I would never have become a true Christian without my mother's powerful intercession.
Picture: Though the work of bringing regeneration to older children is much more difficult, success can be achieved if correct principles and procedures are adopted.
This story should bring great encouragement to every Christian parent. You too can surround your children with a shield of protection that will keep them from casting their lives into the devil's camp. Be warned though. When you have prayed but once or twice, do not expect some instant miracle to take place, for it will not. I know that there are marvelous stories in circulation from apostate Protestant church sources that tell a different story. They usually follow this line: A mother or father is suddenly impressed to pray for a wayward son who has really cast in his lot with the world. At the same instant, maybe a thousand miles away, a dramatic change comes over the sinner. He is brought under deep conviction, confesses his sins, receives a wonderful infilling of the Holy Spirit, suddenly loses all interest in the world and its pleasures, and finds marvelous interest in Bible study. The story then claims that the reclaimed individual, having set his feet in the paths of truth and righteousness, never reverts to his old life thereafter.
No one can be lifted from deep depravity to holiness in an instant even though we would like to see it happen this way. There is always a long preparatory process of which very little if any is visible, that precedes what might appear to be a sudden conversion. For instance, the process that prepared the way for Paul's conversion began when he observed the stoning of Stephen.
"Saul had taken a prominent part in the trial and conviction of Stephen, and the striking evidences of God's presence with the martyr had led Saul to doubt the righteousness of the cause he had espoused against the followers of Jesus. His mind was deeply stirred." The Acts of the Apostles, 112, 113.
From that time forward even though the Jewish leaders had quieted his conscience somewhat, he had no rest of mind and soul. Finally, the hour came when Christ was able to bring those convictions to their culmination and the apostle experienced what might appear to be a sudden and dramatic elevation from total hostility against God and His people to total oneness with Him.
So, in your work for your youngsters, be prepared for a long war. You might have to pray and work for years without ever seeing any visible results. Many times you will find yourself discouraged at the prospects. You will feel that the Lord has not even bothered to listen to you. You will have to fight to maintain interest in praying and will tend to pass up the sacred hour.
But at any cost, you must keep right on praying. Never stop! Never give up! With Jacob declare, "I will not let You go except You bless me." And He will bless. All the time you are clinging to Him pleading your great need, He is working, and one day you will see the salvation of the Lord. I testify to you on the authority of the Scriptures and the witness of my own experience, that, when the time comes, you will find it difficult to believe what the Lord has done for you. It will be so wonderful.
Eventually, at a time to be arranged by the Lord, there needs to be a meeting with the children. One cannot specify whether it will include all of them at one time, or whether each will be served alone. It will vary according to the Lord's wisdom.
The purpose of this interview is to explain the difference between the divine government and the kingdom in which obedience is achieved through compulsion. Frankly admit that the wrong system has been enforced in your home and make a humble, open confession that through ignorance, you have deprived them of the tremendous blessings they ought to have had. If made under the blessing and inspiration of the Holy Spirit as it will be if much time has been spent in prayer beforehand, it will have a telling effect on the children.
Then advise them that it is not too late to make a fresh start along correct lines, and inform them that it gives you great pleasure to offer them a new kind of home government altogether; a kingdom wherein no force or compulsion will ever be used. Never again will the parents administer punishment to the children.
There is little likelihood that the children will be skeptical. Rather, they will feel a convincing power which will be present if the parents have really done a thorough job of their preparation.
Instead of being skeptical, they will welcome the prospect of a life without their being compelled to do what is distasteful to them. Once this response has been secured, it is time to explain that the successful operation of this kind of government depends on certain qualifications being established and maintained. The children must become students of the gospel until its principles are established within them so that the spirit of disobedience is replaced with the spirit of obedience. They must be led to realize that they will have problems, old habits will strive for the mastery, but, for every difficulty, the Lord has the solution. To Him they must learn to go every time that troubles beset them.
It is critically important that the parents understand the difference between revival and reformation. They must under no circumstances give way to discouragement when the child reverts to his old ways when he finds himself confronted with problems with which he cannot cope. Calmly trust in the Lord even though the way seems impossible. God is near and He will accomplish His divine will for the faithful.
The parents will not rest satisfied until they are certain that the children are truly born again. Then, when this miracle of recreative power has taken place, they will then be diligent to ensure that the proper training cultivates all that is good in the growing life while discouraging the flesh from its evil desires. It is no simple task to achieve these wonders, but, for those who are diligent and full of faith, the rewards are tremendous.