Rejoice with Me!

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:15-17

"When people become more heavenly minded, they treasure passing opportunities of this life and become more alive to the present moment."
~ Kenneth Boa in Conformed to His Image

After a morning's quiet time next to my lilies with meditating on the above verse and quote, I was ready to enjoy my summer day with my kids.

Important life events often occur in the midst of ordinary life. After the first day of Vacation Bible School my son asked me some big questions. Initially this was just an attempt to delay the dreaded bedtime.

“Mom, can we listen to one more VBS song?”
“It will need to be a slow, calming one,” I replied.

And so we played the song: Ancient words ever true; changing me, changing you. We have come with open hearts. So, let the ancient words impart. As we sang along he asked what the words in the song meant.

I explained, “Ancient words are the words of God found in the Bible. They change our lives if we read them and put them into practice.” As an example I pointed to a verse that we had put on his wall to help him learn self-control.

“But that is so hard to do!” he exclaimed.

“I know, but you can’t do it in your own strength. Who do you need to go to for help?”

“Jesus,” he answered.

“And what did He have to do to help you with your sin?”

“He died and rose again. But I don’t understand something. If I choose to follow Jesus but then I sin again, do I lose him?”

I honestly didn’t understand his question at first. He struggled to find more words to explain. Through his tears I came to realize that he was afraid he would lose his salvation if he committed any sin once he gave his life to Christ and Jesus cleaned his heart. Thankfully, this showed me he understood the seriousness of sin and that God cannot be in sin’s presence.

I attempted an explanation with an everyday life experience. “When you were born into our family will you ever stop being our son? If you hurt me or sin against me, it will make me feel sad but I will never kick you out of the family. You will always be my child. It works the same way in God’s family. When you ask Jesus to pay the price for your sin, you are born into God‘s family. No one or nothing, not even another sin can take you away from being God‘s child.”

He still didn’t fully understand due to his emotions and the late hour which was past his bedtime. I encouraged him to ask me about it tomorrow and I would be ready with pictures to help him see what it means. “Talk to Jesus about all your worries tonight and then go to sleep.”

We’ve had many similar conversations with him before, and he usually forgets them soon after they‘re over. In order to avoid pushing our children into a decision for Christ prematurely, Matt and I decided that we would wait for the kids to bring the subject up. As parents, we keep each other informed as to the state of the child’s heart after any conversation that took place. Much prayer goes into where to go from there. I’ve often asked God to give me peace when my son is really ready to make the biggest decision of his life. But I decided I wasn’t going to remind him of the previous night’s conversation. He would have to bring it up on his own.

Still, I had to be ready. I spent the morning in prayer and study. I found a few helpful things on the internet by simply searching: “How to Lead a Child to Christ.” One power point presentation (found here: www.nph.com/vcmedia/2362/2362464.ppt ) put my concerned heart to rest as to whether or not Tommy was ready.

I also decided to walk the “Romans Road” with him using his Bible the next time he brought up the question. However, the choice of visuals to help Tommy see the answer to his question concerned me the most.

The tool I've used to show my son the state of his heart when he chooses to sin, or do things his way is our Felt Bible. In my recent post: At Peace with My Lot I explained the deception the enemy uses to convince us that we can be the lord of our own heart. For a time my son struggled to see what was so bad about doing things his way. The attachment of a ball and chain with Satan wearing the crown helped to clear the matter up.

However, I believe the addition of the chain and Satan's presence brought my son's before bedtime question to the surface. He felt that any little sin would kick him out of God's kingdom and back to Satan's realm. I decided that if Tommy gave his heart to Jesus, he could cut the chain.

To show how God's family works I added a God's House where he permanently dwells, even though he will struggle with his sin nature. And Satan, is left out of the house completely.

As I made the felt house I thanked God for His guidance in parenting my "special needs" son. I've struggled to know just what he understands and grasps. God has given me the tools Tommy needs to understand what he is confused by. I truly believe that God gives to every parent the child or children He intends you to guide. He promises to provide wisdom when we lack it, if we ask (James 1:5). He has proved faithful.

After Tuesday’s VBS fun he came home and said, “Mom, I’m ready for you to teach me. Did you do any drawings to help me understand?”

With the aid of my prepared visuals I showed him how God’s family works. As we went to passages in Romans I asked him basic questions about each verse to check for understanding. Romans 8:1, 38-39 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” When he read those verses and understood what they meant, his fears of losing Jesus were put to rest.
I thanked the Lord for how VBS sparked conversations with both my children. A VBS experience at another church had helped our daughter understand the gospel several years ago. For my son it has been 3 years of VBS experiences, consistent Sunday School teaching, our daily looking to God’s word for the answers to life, praying about the struggle to live them, and putting them into practice. Even though I cannot see into my child’s heart the Holy Spirit gave me peace. He was finally ready. His tender, child-like prayer was offered.

Robert D. Troutman says, “Child evangelism is a process in which crisis conversion is preceded by careful Christian teaching and is followed by more teaching or nurturing, which helps children in their Christian experience.” Tommy’s process before his decision has been long. Every child is different, and the teaching and training is still not over.

We’ll mark this life event with a memorial stone (Joshua 4:20-24), a literal rock that he will paint with the date on it. Every year we celebrate their “born again birthday” and talk about how we are seeing them grow to be more like Jesus.