God. But this instruction has not been given the youth
because it would contradict the life of the parents. Therefore the children
have been left to gain a knowledge of the Christian life as best they could.
When tempted to seek the society of worldlings and participate in worldly
amusements, the fond parents, disliking to deny them any indulgence,
have—if they have said or done anything in the matter—taken a position
so indefinite and undecided that the children have judged for themselves
that the course they desired to pursue was in keeping with the Christian
life and character.
Having once started in this way, they usually continue in it until the
worldly element prevails and they sneer at their former convictions. They
despise the simplicity manifested when their hearts were tender, and they
find excuse to elude the sacred claims of the church and of the crucified
Redeemer. This class can never become what they might have been
had not the convictions of conscience been stifled, the holiest, tenderest
affections blunted. If in after years they become followers of Christ, they
will still bear the scars which irreverence for sacred things has made upon
their souls.
Parents do not see these things. They do not foresee the result of their
course. They do not feel that their children need the tenderest culture, the
most careful discipline in the divine life. They do not look upon them as
being in a peculiar sense the property of Christ, the purchase of His blood,
the trophies of His grace, and as such, skillful instruments in God’s hands
to be used for the upbuilding of His kingdom. Satan is ever seeking to
wrest these youth from the hands of Christ, and parents do not discern
that the great adversary is planting his hellish banners close by their sides.
They are so blinded they think it is the banner of Christ.
By ambition or indolence, skepticism or self-indulgence, Satan allures
the young from the narrow path of holiness cast up for the ransomed of
the Lord to walk in. They do not
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generally leave this path all at once. They are won away by degrees.
Having taken one wrong step, they lose the witness of the Spirit to their
acceptance with God. Thus they fall into a state of discouragement and
distrust. They dislike religious services because conscience condemns
them. They have fallen into the snare of Satan, and there is only one way
of escape. They must retrace their steps and with humility of soul confess
and forsake their halfhearted course. Let them renew their first experience
which they have made light of, cherish every divine aspiration, and let
those holy emotions which God’s Spirit only can inspire, reign in their
souls. Faith in Christ’s power will impart strength to sustain, and light to
guide.
This practical instruction in religious experience is what Christian
parents should be prepared to give their children. God requires this of
you, and you neglect your duty if you fail to perform this work. Instruct
your children in regard to God’s chosen methods of discipline and the
conditions of success in the Christian life. Teach them that they cannot
serve God and have their minds absorbed in overcareful provision for this
life; but do not let them cherish the thought that they have no need to toil,
and may spend their leisure moments in idleness. God’s word is plain
on this point. Jesus, the Majesty of heaven, has left an example for the
youth. He toiled in the workshop at Nazareth for His daily bread. He
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was subject to His parents, and sought not to control His own time or to
follow His own will. By a life of easy indulgence a youth can never attain
to real excellence as a man or as a Christian. God does not promise us
ease, honor, or wealth in His service; but He assures us that all needed
blessings will be ours, with “persecutions,” and in the world to come “life
everlasting.” Nothing less than entire consecration to His service will
Christ accept. This is the lesson which every one of us
