Do you know how many parents cling to this as their children get older? Do you know how many children turned out ok, after turning from God because of their upbringing?
Do you know how many today are still praying for one who went into a far country after a childhood of being taught the way of God?
I know of several today that have departed from the ways of their upbringing, they forgot the common sense of the Proverbs, the prayer, the upright ways that were taught in their home. They have forsaken the path of wisdom proclaimed by their mother and father.
They have become wise in their own eyes, they feel they know better than what they were taught, not realizing that full peace comes only from God, not understanding that wisdom is from God and the world is the way of destruction.
Pro_3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Pro_15:5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
Some have gone astray because of some perceived slight, some have gone astray because they didn't truly understand the Lord, they have a head knowledge without a heart knowledge, or a heart knowledge with no true understanding.
The true understanding doesn't come when you are young, for you have parents who protect and provide for you.
It is not until you get older and out from under their roof that you see the true hand of God in your life for yourself.
The Lord God of Creation is the one who provides all for all. Until you get out of the comfort and protection of your parents most don't truly get this.
Many have left the faith because they never knew trouble and tribulation in their youth. Many have left because they think that God had nothing to do with where they are, or they saw what they thought was an imperfect picture of Christ from their parents because us parents are human and imperfect.
When you are brought up in a christian home with a perceived imperfect picture of Christ many turn away thinking that they were sheltered from the real fun, the real life out in the world.
Then one day you wake up and realize that your parents are not perfect, in the limited understanding of a child you apply that same thinking to God and His ways.
That is not Jesus, that is not God, but we tend to see Him through what we know.
I know of a lady who says someone whose salvation she is praying for, was brought up in a christian home, but now minimizes that upbringing, twists the Word to suit his wants and to justify his actions, and has turned from God and is now facing health issues.
We were talking and I let her know that we do not know his heart, we do not know his true thought. However, he did not reject Christ, he just drifted away as far as we know. We are praying for that man right now, hoping he returns to Christ and God before it is too late.
I know of several others who left their upbringing and still have not come back even though they are in their 50's now.
It has always struck me as odd how some people raised in exactly the same environment can turn out so very different.
I know of some who, through other's choices, paid a horrible price in their life and turned away because they let satan convince them that they were at fault somehow, they saw their life altered, their children's lives ripped apart due to one's actions. They turned away because they thought God had let them down and didn't fully understand that God has your best in mind even when someone else's actions and choices adversely affect you. Their choice, their actions are theirs, your choices, your actions are yours. You must give account for you not them.
I also know of several who have never left, Some who left but came back, and are now a force for God. I know of some who have turned their lives around because God called them and never gave up on them and they listened finally.
There is power in persistence parents. Stay the course, keep them true in their youth (or as true as you can for you never truly know another's heart even your kids). God's Word shall not return void.
As the child gets older they shall see, they shall hear and hopefully they will repent them of their ways and return.
You can only do so much, you have to let them spread their wings and fly. Stay true to the Word, teach them the Love of God, embody that love as closely as we as humans can.
Then Pray, Pray. Pray.
God can not give up on them as long as we do not. Prayer works, it may take time (weeks,months,years even) but it works.
The evidence suggests that if you train up a child right, they will (eventually) be on the right path. God has said so therefore it is true.
As a human, a parent, a Christian, all we can do is lead by example and pray that we stay true as we try to lead them in the Upright ways of God and His Son.
This world we live in is fraught with danger, evil, sin, and other humans. Many things that can trip us up.
We must keep our eyes firmly on Christ and His sacrifice for us. We must stay true to our God in our lives. We are someone that others ,whether we know it or not, are looking too.
When trouble comes lean on Him, not on what you think or know, not on your feelings or emotions.
At the end of the day we control very little in this world other than us, Our actions, reactions, in-actions.
Hold firm to Him through whatever storms may come and He will lead you, protect you, comfort you. Yes this world will break our hearts and hurt our pride, hurt our feelings, kick us and leave us truly lost as to why.
God knows why, what , where, when, and how. He knows.
There is comfort in Him knowing and you knowing He knows.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
If you have someone who has gone astray please, keep the testimony strong, the prayers going up.
If you are one that has gone astray, there is still time to turn again to the Lord. Jesus loves you. Your family loves you. They will receive you unconditionally.
Return to the God of thy youth, the One who died for you. Call on His name and He shall reveal to you the love He and your family have.
Don't convince yourself it is too late, that you are too far gone, that is satan talking.
Don't give up, don't give in to the devil, search Him and try Him and see that He is Good!
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