BETWEEN TWO WORLDS
In April, two of our leaders and I visited with several of our senior citizens who are currently in nursing homes. For this trip we had a special purpose in mind, we were celebrating the Lord's Supper with three wonderful Christian ladies who have been longstanding members of our church.
This was a very meaningful experience for us all. The following Wednesday night - during our prayer time - one of our true elders, Mr. Howard Barnes, shared with us that he and his wife had visited one of these ladies (Carolyn) the following day. He made a special point to note how meaningful it was to Carolyn. Mr. Barnes said, "She kept talking about how thrilled she was that those four men came to visit her the night before."
I am not the best mathematician in the world, but I did the arithmetic in my mind. I thought to myself, "Tom, Bobbi, and Tony. That's three. I wonder who the fourth person was?" Suddenly it occurred to me that there were four people there that night. The fourth person was Jesus Christ himself! Later that night I sat on my front porch and talked with God for a long time. I thank Jesus for showing up. Even now, I recount the words of Jesus Christ, "…and lo, I am with you!"
What a thrill to spend time with a lady that had seen Jesus!
Let me now contrast that experience with another not so encouraging experience. As I shared with our 16 year veteran office secretary, Mrs. Jane Jernigan, she recounted a recent experience where she and her family were in a restaurant for a family meal. They couldn't help but overhear the conversation at the table next to them as a gentleman addressed a rambunctious first grader at an adjoining table. The child shared with this stranger that he didn't have to go to school the next Morning because it was Sunday. The kind gentleman responded, "That's right, tomorrow is Easter and you get to go to Sunday School." The child looked at the man and exclaimed in all sincerity, "Sunday School, what's that?"
Tragically, the age we live in has witnessed a brood of mothers and fathers who are not concerned that their children know Jesus Christ. More and more, mothers are not insisting that their children be educated in the principles of Christianity. More frequently, the children rule the roost. "Don't want to go to Sunday School today little Johnny? Ok!" says the mother who has no concept of eternal life, heaven and hell.
More and more, the next generation of mothers is not gaining the ability to see Jesus.
I want to make three observations about the space between two Worlds. The world of mothers (and fathers) whose main concern is that they live, teach and lead their children to be in relationship with Jesus Christ. Those raising up a generation of disciples of Jesus, and the contrasting world of mothers (and fathers) who have no concept of the one true God, His love and His wrath and our necessity to be rescued by Jesus. There are many caught in the space between these two worlds.
My first observation is that this space is most often filled with grandmothers; women who have an innate ability to bridge the gap between these two worlds. They can build bridges, not so much through force, but rather through godly influence. Some are doing a wonderful job, some need to refocus.
My second observation is that parents who are not "dragging" their children to church and leading them in daily family devotions and living out their faith at home, those parents are raising up a generation of kids who will invariably spend eternity away from God. We are literally sending our children to Hell.
My third observation is the power and influence of the remnant: Those mothers and fathers who are obedient to Jesus Christ. They are 'raising up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.' They are able to see Jesus. You see them with their children in Sunday School, in worship service and serving in ministries like Angel Food. They take them on mission trips and pass on the faith, indeed build the faith into their lives.
Moms! Let me encourage you to recognize the importance of introducing your children to Jesus. Talk to them about Christ. Show them how important God is in your life. Make church and Sunday School a priority.
Be a mom who sees Jesus!
With the Greatest Heart of Love,
~ Pastor Tony Rivers
Senior Pastor - Grace Baptist Church,
202 Kincaid Avenue N
Wilson, NC 27896
http://www.gracebaptistwilson.com/
Minister of outreach for Angel Food Ministries
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