PASSING ON THE BATON, NO. 14 - START AT CHILDHOOD

1 Timothy 3:15 says, "And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. " Men, it is never too early to acquaint our children with the Scriptures.

There are wise and intelligent parents as far as this world is concerned who educate their children in all manner of subjects. Some have their children speaking several languages by the time they are five - ten years old. Some educate their children to be well acquainted with the powerful, mind-developing game of chess, and the list goes on. The brain of a child is well able to absorb very naturally subjects that later on in years would be far more difficult.

O how blessed above all things it is for children to have parents who sacrifice their time and make every effort to educate their children in the holy Scriptures from an early age. Some parents even begin this ministry to their babies while they are still in the womb. Remember how the baby, John the Baptist, leaped for joy in his mother's womb at the sound of Mary's salutation (Luke 1:41, 44).

How sad it is that in many Christian homes the Word of God is hardly ever mentioned. It takes more than a Sunday school lesson once per week to accomplish this in a child. It was important in the Old Testament to use every opportunity throughout every day of the child's life to teach them thoroughly. We need to remind ourselves again of Deuteronomy 6:6-9: "And these words, which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them DILIGENTLY unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be a frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates."

We have drifted so far from this all important education for our children. How deceived we have been to put so much emphasis on secular education and sciences and yet blinded to the greatest and most important education of all. Secular education is, without doubt, above all else in America while the Bible and prayer are out of our schools.

The above Scripture is the order of the day and wise parents will take notice and pay heed. Unfortunately, this passage is foreign to the way we think of education in this 21st century. However, more than ever, the world needs children who are saturated with God's Word throughout every day of their lives. This should not be done in a legalistic way, but in a positive, encouraging, joyful, and loving atmosphere.

This world is so secular and worldly that it will take a very special generation of people who are truly born again, who have a solid grounding in the Scriptures, and who are filled with the Spirit of God to turn it around. Parents schooling their children in God's Word is needed more than any other type of religious training.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell