Watching and listening to the children’s choir on Sunday night gave me cause to pause and ponder these important words:
He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.
(Psalm 78:5–8)
These words reflect not only our entire study in the book of Numbers, but also what our children sang on Sunday night. The psalmist is pleading, “O children, come!”
On Sunday morning, we concluded our study in the book of Numbers, noting that the generation redeemed from Egypt had died in the wilderness and now a new—at this point, a faithful generation—was on the verge of inheriting God’s Promised Land. As Moses finished commanding the children of Israel, there was confidence that the next generation would “set their hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep his commandments.” The God-centred faithful covenantal obedience of the daughters of Zelophehad was indicative of a better day for the people of God. There was every reason to believe that they and their generation would “not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.” Perhaps as Moses spoke with them, he experienced the kind of hope—and concern—I experienced Sunday evening.
While enjoying the enthusiasm of the singing children belting out, “O Children Come,” I smiled thinking that one day many of these children will come to Christ, be converted, and become baptised members of our church. That bodes well for our church’s future.
For several years I have said that one day our church membership will radically grow and yet attendance might not. Because many of the children attending our church gatherings are being raised in gospel saturated homes, they will be saved and added to the church’s membership. They will heed the call, “O children, come!” And, in a large way, this is happening. God be praised!
Over the decades I have preached, pleaded, and prayerfully prodded parents to heed the word of God to raise a godly seed (Ephesians 6:1–4). Along with fellow elders, Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, and a host of others, I have sought to come alongside parents calling out with them, “O children, come!” But the loudest voice remains that of parents, both in word and in deed. If parents contradict the voice of the collective congregation, then here is little hope their children will heed the call to come to Christ. If parents train their children to be indifferent, even cynical, about the voice of the congregation shepherding them to Jesus Christ, most likely they will be just as dismissive of the voice of the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life. Parents need to be careful, and deathly serious, about this.
Children learn by example, yet thankfully God sometimes graciously overpowers poor examples as he brings people to saving faith. This was the case with the new generation that entered Canaan. That faithful new generation literally left their parents behind in the wilderness. This can provide us with hope for children with unfaithful, unbelieving, and rebellious parents. Nevertheless, it is far better for parents and children to both enter the inheritance of eternal salvation (1 Peter 1:3–9).
Our greatest desire and determination must be that whole families come to Christ. And as they do, we will stand beside one another in worship, lovingly calling out, “O children, come!”
Calling with you,
Doug