IT WILL MATTER TO YOUR KIDS

The sun peeked over the horizon and after a restless night, Eve rose to face the day.  Not since the dawn of creation had she been so happy to see another morning.  Had it really only been 24 hours since yesterday's sunrise?  It seemed a lifetime ago that she had risen as usual, splashed her face in the trickling brook, smelled the beautiful flowers, and set off to gather her and Adam’s meal for the day.  Why had she taken that stroll by the forbidden tree?  Why had she stopped to linger in its shade and admire its luscious ripe fruit?  Why had she listened to the Serpent?  And why oh why had she taken that first bite?

It had been so delicious and even Adam couldn’t resist but now God was angry, he had removed the covering of His glory from around them and clothed them with skins from an innocent lamb.  Now they would be forced to leave their beautiful home, the only place they had ever known but at least they were still alive.  God had said sin would bring death but Eve’s heart was still beating and Adam’s even breathing assured her that she was not all alone.  Perhaps God wouldn’t kill them after all and life would go on as wonderful as ever.

The years passed and Eve embraced the “new normal,” her former life in the Garden fading into a distant memory.  Time continued on…until it was time to deliver her first born…OH THE PAIN, and she remembered.

Genesis 3:16 To the woman He said:

“I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children;
Your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you.”

The pain of childbirth slowly faded as she nurtured her children.  Sure Adam came in from the field every day, tired and dirty from fighting the weeds and brambles, the boys were constantly involved in minor skirmishes over the silliest disagreements and it seemed their demands for food and attention was never ending.  She had to worry about clothing for her family now but every year there were new lamb skins from the sin offering to make the new garments.  Eve had settled into life until that ONE FATEFUL DAY.  Suddenly, it all came flooding back, her sin slapped her in the face and she bowed beneath the weight of guilt and regret.

Adam returned from the yearly Sin Offering and reported that God was displeased with their oldest son, Cain.  Cain had offered the “fruit of the ground,” the ground God had cursed, instead of a blood offering and it had been rejected by God.  Cain stomped into the house, bloody and alone, collected some food and water and took off without explanation.  What had happened now?  Adam went to investigate and came back with the devastating news…Abel was dead, apparently killed by his brother and Cain had fled out of fear…Yes, it all became clear, SIN HAD RESULTED IN DEATH!!!!  The sin she and Adam had committed in the Garden had been passed down to their precious children.  God had spoken truth…

Genesis 2:17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Thousands of years have passed since that day in the garden that would change the world and the plight of mankind forever.  God provided Himself a Lamb for the atonement and restoration of man’s relationship with Him and we have the privilege of receiving His Holy Spirit to live within us.  God’s pronouncement to Adam and Eve in Genesis 2, however, has still not changed, UNREPENTED SIN BRINGS DEATH.

As you make choices that take you away from the Presence of God and taste the sweetness of sin’s fruit, it may seem that God has changed his mind…Surely you won’t die.  Life continues; life is good…you still have a job, a beautiful home, and precious children that have brought you unbelievable joy.  WHAT ABOUT YOUR PRECIOUS CHILDREN?

DO NOT FOOL YOURSELF FOR ONE MINUTE…those precious children are watching every choice you make and not only learning from you but modeling their choices after your example.  You may not think your choices have consequence; after all you are NOT HURTING ANYONE.  But decisions do have consequence and IT WILL MATTER TO YOUR KIDS.

I know wonderful people who were kind, responsible, good citizens and loving parents, yet did not make the decision to repent and follow God until their children were grown.  Sadly, not one of their children have followed the “late-in-life” example to change their ways.  In fact, most of the sins they have indulged in have far surpassed anything their parents would have dared…IT WILL MATTER TO YOUR KIDS.

Your kids will grow up and make their own choices and the foundation under those choices will be determined by the examples you have set in their younger years.  The chance that they will make Godly choices is greatly increased if you have taught them the ways of God and led the way by example.  If your choices have been selfish and determined by your own fleshly lusts, your children will not only follow your example but quite possibly exceed your life of sin…IT WILL MATTER TO YOUR KIDS.

Romans 5:19 
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners,

So also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

IT ISN’T TOO LATE!!  God made a promise to Adam and Eve the PROMISE OF REDEMPTION and he kept His Word.  

There is still time to “turn things around.”  Through the power of the Holy Spirit you can begin to make the right choices; choices that lead you toward God.  Though your children may be grown, your choices can still affect them and perhaps influence them to make Godly choices for their own life.  BEGIN RIGHT NOW, make your choice for God…IT WILL MATTER TO YOUR KIDS.