Paul and I have been struggling with the question of how much to push salvation on our kids. Kaleb is six years old, very mature for his age and we are at that time in our lives where we think he is getting close to being ready. Both of us had salvation experiences on our own, devoid of much parental influence. I was ten, my parents not believers, and Paul was 16, brought to church his whole life but never really taught to live out his faith. For me, this allowed such a personal and meaningful experience. I remember feeling empty and then being filled. My life changed and I was grateful, ready to follow hard after this God that called me out of darkness. I was ten. But it was real. We know the impact we have on our sons. The Lord put them in our lives to influence and direct toward Him and a life with Him. So, here in lies the problem: what is the right way to lead them to the cross? With Kaleb, we have told him the plan of salvation. He knows what sin is. He knows there is a payment for that sin, and he knows that Christ has paid that price so that he could have eternal life. But he is not ready. This used to frighten me, but it is so glorious, really! I have heard that we, as Western American Christians, put salvation in our own little pre-packaged box: pray this prayer; walk this isle, and boom, you don’t go to Hell. That is not what I want for my boys! I want them to have a burning passion for the Lord. One that draws them to their knees and causes them to be grateful of God’s free gift! What an honor it is for us to be able to be called sons and daughters of the most high God! That Christ has defeated our fiercest enemy and all we have to do is call on His name to live in that victory. That one day, Satan will be destroyed forever and, as Revelation puts it, “Behold, the dwelling place of God [will be] with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall their be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Now that is a God to fall on your face in front of! Why are we begging our children to accept this God? As if He needed acceptance.
Lord, let us pray instead that our children would long for you! That they would come to a point in their lives that they are desperate for you! This is my prayer for my boys. Lord, let it be so!
