“When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house” (Deut. 22:8).
In view of the moral darkness which has enveloped every part of Cain’s world, especially in these so-called Christian lands, it is well to be reminded afresh of the unique—and we may say, indispensable—role which the Christian home plays in protecting and preserving our children.
God has provided this place of safety and the necessary principles for guiding it according to His mind. The account of the ark that Noah was commanded to build contains, for example, much wisdom for parents. Satan seeks to destroy our children now, even as the flood destroyed all not sheltered in the ark then. May God grant purpose of heart and energy of faith to build a safe shelter in the bosom of the home.
That place of safety—the ark—was built by Noah in obedience to a direct command of God (Gen. 6:14). Fathers are commanded in Ephesians 6:4 to bring their children up “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Mothers are commanded by God to “guide the house” (1 Tim. 5:14).
Christian homes are the primary (perhaps the only) place in which parents may exercise full control over everything which would exert influence over their children. Zealous parental vigilance—as faithful shepherds watch over their flocks by night (Luke 2:8)—is needed to discern the subtle dangers seeking to gain entrance into the home. “Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds” (Prov. 27:23).
We recently read the story of a man who, when visiting a shepherd in Scotland, found him very sad. With tears, the shepherd explained that wolves had gotten into his flock the previous night and destroyed sixty-five of his best lambs. The visitor sympathetically asked, “How many of the sheep did they destroy?” With a look of surprise the old shepherd said, “None. Don’t you know that a wolf will never take an old sheep if it can get a young lamb?”
Today Satan tries to enter our homes under the guise of an angel of light, masquerading his godless corruptions and filth under an almost infinite variety of harmless-looking disguises—seeking to introduce them into the midst of this Christian fortress. Only diligent, prayerful watchfulness on the part of parents will provide the needed wisdom to discern the precious from the vile. As in the days of Nehemiah, parents today, acting in the energy of faith, must rebuild the walls that have been burned. The doors, locks and bars too must be set up, that the home be secured against the wicked one.
The day in which we live finds professing Christianity hurrying towards its awful, apostate end. The spirit of this day is found in Jude, where we read, “It was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares . . . ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness” (Jude 34). In our day, danger lies more in wickedness which creeps in unawares, rather than by open assault, which, by its very character, gives parents warning of the attack.
When Noah, warned of God, moved with fear and built the ark, he prepared it without to protect against the flood of judgment (Gen. 6:14), while he placed within all that was needed to sustain and preserve its occupants (Gen. 6:21). Let parents move in the same spirit of godly fear and obedience, preparing their home against the attacks of the enemy. See to it that your home has strong battlements, walls, locks and doors.
Ed.