Dealing With Prodigal Children

If you have a prodigal child, you know what it is to suffer. We always want the best for our children, but sometimes our children choose the worst. Sometimes they can be so earnest in their pursuit of evil, that to be around them is to court disaster.

It's never easy to let go of a child. Even when they're grown it is only natural to want a relationship with them, to care what happens to them. We don't stop wanting to cuddle and love them just because they're old enough to care for themselves.

Most children realize this. They know we care, and how far we'd go to see to their needs. That can lead to them seeking to take unreasonable advantage. What we need to remember is what God's word says about erring children.

And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. Exo 21:15

And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. Exo 21:17

Now, clearly, we do not live in Old Testament times. No one is going to kill their child, nor should they. However, continuing with an erring child, especially an older child, who has shown a willingness to abuse their parents, is not something we should do, either. I know it's hard. No one wants to be separated from their children. However, if we truly love them, and they behave in such a manner, it is more loving to walk away from them than it would be to continue with them.

Why? Because if they are willing to curse, and physically abuse a parent, they have already crossed the line. (Please note: I am only speaking here of older children, that is grown children. The pre-adult child should be appropriately disciplined.) The problem is continuing the relationship will more likely cause them to sin even more, and there is only so much God will tolerate. (Seriously, folks, God's hand on us has never ceased. He still judges, and removes people daily.)

I'm just saying, there's a kindness in walking away from such a child. If you don't want them judged, let them go their own way, and leave them to it in every way except prayer. (I don't think I have to tell parents they should continue to pray for their children; rather, I'm just acknowledging that this is so.) This way they have the opportunity to recognize their mistake and turn back.

Remember the Prodigal Son parable. (Luk 15:11-32) The father did not go chasing after the son who walked away. No, he let him go. Even if they choose to never return, at least you'll know you did not encourage them to sin even more. It's a bitter pill, filled with anguish, regret, and sorrow; but it is still the best medicine for the disease.

Get to the Battlefield

Just imagine what would have happened to Israel if there had been no David. David was a man of action. Goliath's disrespect for God angered him. He didn't go out to fight because he thought he was tough. He went out because his God had been insulted, and he knew his God was able.

Too many think being Christian is about sitting in a pew, listening to a sermon. It isn't. It is about being David in a world full of Goliaths. We take the fight to them, because our God is worthy. H...e deserves our allegiance. He deserves their respect.

I take my sword and go to the nearby pit of hell as often as I can. No, I'm not a David, but I surely fight like one. No demon gets to slaughter God's creation on my watch without being rebuked. I won't let the children die without trying to save them, either.

What about you? If pew warming is all you want to do, understand that the time will come when the LORD is going to want to know why you felt no need to show up at the battlefield. He will ask you why you failed to understand His word regarding caring for the helpless, the fatherless. That's going to be much more intense than fighting for the children's lives -- way more.

Ask the LORD tonight to reveal the truth of this to you. Repent. Get off your pew, and get out to the field. Children are dying. What do you really have to do that could be more important?

Defend the poor and fatherless. Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Psa 82:3

The "Grand" Agenda

The ultra-rich do not care for the poor. They like to look like they do, but their real agenda is to prosper themselves at the poor's expense. Their gods are money and self. They are the devil's own. The evil that they do is world-ending, because they would destroy everything to prosper themselves. Many cater to them, hoping to get a "piece of the pie". They, too, give up their souls to money and self.

The "grand" scheme is to depopulate the world. To reduce the population to just enough people to provide for and serve them. If the masses wake-up and realize what they are doing, it will bring unprecedented war. That is war of such dimensions that very few will survive. If the masses remain asleep; the attacks on our food supply, health care, and insect life (like bees) will continue until few poor survive. Either way, the ultra-rich will get that part of what they seek.

What they will not get is the ability to enjoy their "victory". No, because they will be dead, too. In their "supremacy" they will find out that there really is Someone vastly more supreme, because God will see to it that they reap what they have sown. Their underground bunkers will not save them. Their vast resources will not save them. Their hired guns will not save them. Nothing will save them from the wrath of God. Nothing.

Is there any way to stop it? Yes. I believe we could. However, what is required is highly unlikely. I mean if professing Christianity refuses to wake up to save their own nations, why would they wake up to save the world? I honestly don't expect they will.

So, like the ancient Israelites, the enemy will be allowed to come in (many are already here) and plunder and kill as we reap what we have sown. Bloodshed follows bloodshed (Eze 35:6), and we have silently allowed millions to be brutally, savagely, and mercilessly killed. Genghis Khan has nothing on us.

Go and Sin No More

One of the ways many participate and facilitate abortion is by assuring those planning to abort that "God will forgive them". Many children have been killed because pastors, elders, and professing Christians often offer this comfort eagerly. It is one of the primary reasons so many professing Christians frequent abortuaries, and it is high on God's list of reasons for rebuking us as a nation.

Galatians assures us that God will not be mocked (6:7). The idea that we can plan to sin then ask for forgiveness is an attempt to do just that. Assuring someone intent on sinning that God will forgive them often leads them to continue on their chosen path. As such, it makes one a partner with them in sin. In short, you have given your approval as one who knows God.

The reality is that intentional sin of this type usually carries with it severe punishment. Because abortion is the willful shedding of innocent blood, it makes both the counselor and the perpetrator guilty of bloodshed. Bloodshed follows bloodshed. (Eze 35:6) So, it is not just by their silent inaction that the church is made guilty; but also, by their encouragement to disregard Christ's sacrifice.

A better way to deal with the abortion minded is to point out that intentional sin attempts to mock God. That God Himself will come against them for that. I would also add the verses regarding the affect of shedding innocent blood. (Gen 4:10, 11, 9:5; Deu 19:9, 10, 27:25; Pro 6:16-19, 21:12 ; and Jer 7:6, 7 are a few of them.) Further, I would point out that abortion doesn't just destroy the individual. It is a nation-killer. Psalm 106:37, 38 tells us that.

We must cease to care more about comforting those intending to sin than we do regarding God. He is the One we have to deal with. If He truly is our God, we should respect Him too much to continue such disrespect. It might help to remember that Christ never even appeared to approve of sin; but rather, called all to "sin no more". (Joh 8:11)

Professing Themselves to be Wise

Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar; and let them say, Spare Thy people, O LORD, and give not Thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them. Wherefore should they say among the people, Where IS their God? Joe 2:17

We truly do need to weep, fast, and pray. This nation is far from out of trouble; rather, we are overrun with those who deeply desire to destroy us. Let us come together, choosing God -- even His correction, lest He destroy us completely.

I know a young man who has been chased by homosexuals for many years. They have become so emboldened that they would chase him all the way back to his mother. This literally happened almost every time the family left the house. The only thing that stopped it was the boy became a man, a man who's "not on your best day" look finally got the message across.

The point is society used to protect children from such monsters. Now, it gives them over to them. So, they have no shame, no regard for their choices, and no respect for God.

This is a sign, folks, of how far our nation has turned from God. We allowed innocent children to be slaughtered in their mother's wombs. We held our tongues, and let it happen. Most churches still do nothing to combat this nation-killing atrocity. So, now, none of our children are safe.

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful. But became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools . . . Rom 1:21, 22

Indeed we are fools to give our children over to those who's great desire is to destroy them.

This Morning's Word: Harden not Your Heart

And the disciples came, and said unto Him, "Why speakest Thou unto them in parables?"

And He answered and said unto them, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." Mat 13:10, 11

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esias which saith, 'By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive.' For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. v. 14, 15

These people had already decided not to believe. They did not want to know. Therefore, God allowed them to be blind and deaf. Though the truth stood before them in the flesh, they never realized it. The LORD Himself stood before them, performing many miracles, and being by nature clearly God. Yet, they never truly recognized Him.

We live in such a time today. People do not want to know. They love their sin, and want to remain in it. Therefore, they will not see, neither will they hear. Though the truth be loudly proclaimed to them, though the evidence be plain in front of them; they will not turn. They will not be saved, because they want to keep the evil they have embraced.

Harden not your heart. Turn not your eyes away from the truth before you. Do not stop up your ears. Judgment will still come. Whether you turn or not, you will be held accountable for your actions. He is not going to look the other way, nor is there any escape.

Why choose the fire, and torment? The anguish of it will destroy you completely. Choose, rather to see, to hear, and understand. The difference is literally night and day. One is horrendous anguish and torment; the other, eternal bliss. One thing is for certain, those already in torment would do anything for the opportunity before those still living.

Today's Word: Our Loved Lost

Let God arise. Let His enemies be scattered. Let them also that hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. Psa 68:1, 2

These verses sound harsh. They reflect an attitude that is unseemly in today's culture. We want the wicked among us, because many of our loved ones are wicked. They deserve His judgment, but we do not want them to be judged. We want them to be saved.

However, this is who God actually is. The wicked will not stand before Him. That is they will not remain. He will vanquish them. He will punish them severely, and He will not allow them to continue among His children.

If we love them more than God's holiness, He will vanquish us, too. We will have chosen wickedness over Him, and wickedness has no place with Him.

The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the people see His glory. Psa 97:6

The proof that God is exactly who He claims to be is all around us. Just because some choose to ignore it does not make it cease to be so. The truth is found in every atom, every cell, every body, every continent, every world, and every galaxy. The tiniest parts scream Him. The largest ones proclaim Him. To miss Him we have to choose not to look, to not want to know.

O, come wayward sinner, the time of judgment nears.
Do not be caught without Him, trapped in the pit of tears.
For His way is merciful when we to Him submit;
But judgment is certain if we fail to commit.

Being God's is not about belonging to a church or organization. It is about being truly His. The disciples are our example and they gave everything for Him. It's not a walk down the aisle, repeat after me thing. It's a lifelong commitment. He died for us. We live for Him.

Today, I encourage everyone to consider their family members who are clearly lost. Everyone has at least one, most have many. Consider today how you will feel when that last trumpet sounds, and they are being dragged away by demons to hell's pits. Don't you want to know you tried? Offer Christ today. Be His light in their darkness. I can't promise it will make that last day easier, but knowing you tried will certainly beat realizing you never made the effort.