Frequently we have heard that the Christian has three enemies: (1) Satan, (2) self and (3) the world. At the present time it seems that the world is more influential as an enemy than it has ever been. In the lifetime of many of us we have seen such a tremendous development of things that allure and attract. Also, there is such a horrible declension in teaching and in practicing what is right and good. So, the world tempts and tries the true believer. On the one side, what may appear harmless, as the forbidden fruit appeared to Eve, attracts us. On the other side, wickedness abounds. We learn in 1 John 5:1919And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (1 John 5:19) that "the whole world lieth in wickedness (or, in the wicked one].”
How can we help our dear children as they grow up in this world? Life goes on and we live daily under the influence of our surroundings. Not all that influences or directs us is bad. This is where we as believers have privilege and responsibility. How wonderful it is to seek to help our children for their eternal as well as temporal good. Happiness and blessing will follow.
In the educational systems of today much that is not true and right is taught. Also, in the great house of Christendom much has become like the world. A comparison of 2 Timothy 3 with Romans 1 is enough to show this.
We cannot leave the great house of profession, but our God has supplied all that we need to keep us and to teach our children the right way. "Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of Him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance" (Ezra 8:2121Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. (Ezra 8:21)).
In 2 Kings 4 we find much that is typical of God's people today. Elisha came to Gilgal, and there was a dearth in the land. Elisha said to his servant, "Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets." Then what happened? "One went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not." It is like nourishment gathered today in a worldly Christendom which is wild and has some poison in it. It says, "They knew them not"—a great lack of discernment. What was the remedy? God's prophet knew. He said, "Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm [evil thing] in the pot" (vss. 38-41).
The meal is typical of Christ in His perfection brought to us down here as food for God's people. Today every believer is a priest and we all need to feed upon Christ. Christ in His life is food to sustain us in our life.
What can we do to help our children living in this world? The answer is clear: we must put more of Christ into their daily food. It will counteract the poison that is in this field in which we all live. Ed.