Part 2

The Parents of Individuals. Have youth received the rearing up in the Word that is necessary to live a life in Christ? In Deuteronomy 6, parents are told to impress the Lord’s commandments upon their children. So, are parents rising to the challenge? Have our children received the guidance and wisdom and discipline that will help them to stand firm against the things of this world without being dragged into them? Have they been instructed in putting on the full armor of God? To fight the dark powers of this world rather than other human beings created in God’s image, no matter color of skin. A young child needs assistance when learning to dress himself. A student needs to be instructed so he may attest to the truth. An aborigine from Australia thrown into the bustling culture in the United States of America would be lost and confused indeed. Are we preparing our young people to stand out against the dark powers of this world? Or are we showing them by the way we live that its okay to conform to its ungodly standards, deceiving them into thinking there will be no consequence? Because there will be consequences and they are devastating. Children are addicted to drugs and alcohol at young ages, are involved in gangs and drug and territory wars, and are dying every day at the hands of other children. Why is this happening? Out of desperation to be loved the cut themselves, rip their hair out, contemplate suicide, and allow themselves to be sexually abused because they are in need of the love of a Savior, yet they are ignored even by those who are called to care most. Are we introducing them to Christ at an early age and raising them in obedience to the word so that they may grow into a personal relationship with him, claiming the promise given to them in baptism? Are we revealing to them the true identity that they have in Christ? Christian parents are called by God to love their children and raise them in the Word, so that they children will not stray from it when they grow to maturity and begin to make more decisions for themselves. This is their highest calling as parents, should they choose to accept it. It may be difficult, but it will bring greater joy than is imaginable.
Satan - Master deceiver and liar. If you think you have him and his ways figured out, you’d better take a second look, because he has many tricks and has had thousands of years of practice in executing them. The only thing you can count on is that he will be deceitful, and in a most appealing way. He knows what he’s doing, and he knows exactly which buttons to push that will set us off in which ever way. In Scripture it says he disguises himself as an angel of light. It is only by God’s instruction and guidance in his word that we can recognize his attempts to lead God’s children away from the straight and narrow path. We need to live on every word that comes from the mouth of God. It was with scripture that Christ refuted the devil when he was tempted in the wilderness as accounted in Matthew 4; and in Ephesians 6, the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, is the only offensive and defensive weapon we are given in order to take our stand against the devil’s schemes, along with the rest of the full armor of God.
The Youth of today no longer know what it means to truly fear God and his almighty, authoritative word. They have been raised in too liberal of a manner are allowed to do what they want, when they want to do it, at any cost to anyone else, as long as they get what they want. They no longer know what it means to live a life of service and love for God and for others. This is the result of the fallen corrupt nature of man; but Christ gives hope for a righteous life.
What can we do, as true followers of Christ, to remedy this situation? How can we help them to regain their identity in Christ? First off, we can lead by example. Model our lives after that of Christ, and in doing so, be a witness to those around who are in need of the life giving news of the gospel. This modeling, of course, is possible only by the power of the Holy Spirit, living in us, enabling us to see God’s will, and just as importantly, do God’s will, as a result of the salvation we receive in Christ Jesus through his death on the cross. In order to determine God’s will for us in our lives, we must look to his Holy, active, and infallible word, of which he, not man, is the final authority. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we must also hold each other accountable according to God’s word, gently rebuking when in the wrong, and lovingly instructing when uncertain, and humbly saying “I don‘t know“ when we are unsure of the answer.