Deuteronomy 11:18-20
Praise the Lord Beloved.
I can recall an interesting conversation I had with a young lady about several years back, who had just had her very first child. As we began to talk she allowed me to hold her infant son. I said to her, “It’s hard to believe that they are born with a sinful nature.” Well, she didn’t take to kindly to what I said and she began to oppose what I said. So, I used my better judgement and thought it was for the best that I not say anything else to quell an argument with her.
It has been a couple of years since I last saw her and I would love to talk to her now, to see if she thought any different since her son is now in preschool.
Beloved, at one point or another, all of us have felt a tug to do something that we knew was wrong. As adults and believers, we’ve learned that giving in to temptation is a sin against God. But small children do exactly as their natures dictate. Mother says, “Don’t touch,” but they reach out anyway.
You see, little ones don’t yet understand the wisdom of following a parent’s rules. Boys and girls must be taught to recognize the difference between good and evil before they can make the wise choice to do right. In the early years, a child is in a state of innocence. They’re neither righteous nor saved, but they’re safe from God’s wrath. So if the child dies, they go to heaven.
You find that the Bible refers to is as the innocent period.
In Deuteronomy 1:39 (NCV) which says: “Your little children that you said would be captured, who do not know right from wrong at this time, will go into the land. I will give the land to them, and they will take it for their own.”
And in Isaiah 7:16 (NCV) it says: “You are afraid of the kings of Israel and Aram now. But before the child learns to choose good and reject evil, the lands of Israel and Aram will be empty.”
Beloved, the Word of God confirms that there’s a period of time, when children are not morally accountable for their conduct. The age of moral responsibility differs from child to child. As little ones grow, they each develop the spiritual capacity to pursue righteousness or knowingly give in to evil.
Young parents, the years of innocence is the time for you to pour into your child or children sound biblical training and lessons on obedience. In other words, parents it’s your responsibility to teach your child or children how to respect, and comply. If you don’t you’re going to be held accountable.
Deuteronomy 11:18-19 (NCV) says: “Remember my words with your whole being. Write them down and tie them to your hands as a sign; tie them on your foreheads to remind you. 19 Teach them well to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
May God encamp joy and happiness on everyone
who hears and does what thus says the Lord.
