TEENAGERS KILLED. WHY?
This was the headline across the front page of the daily paper of a small town in Michigan. One 14-year-old died at the scene and three others of the same age were taken to emergency rooms of nearby hospitals. The young man who was killed upon impact was an eighth grade honor-roll student who played football, basketball and participated in wrestling and track. He was a member of the Student Council and Vice President of his class. Tragically, his mother’s car in which he was riding (driven by one of his 14-year-old friends) crashed into a tree, and his vibrant life on this earth was ended.
The person who is driving has your life in his hands.
Such disasters, resulting from disobedience, often occur when people get out from under God’s protective covering because of rebellion. It can, and does, happen to the boy or girl next door, to your own children. Others not directly involved in disobedient acts are often hurt and sometimes even killed. I pray that you will share this newsletter with any and all young people with whom you come in contact. Teenagers are especially vulnerable to peer pressure and sometimes do things in groups or with friends that they would never do alone. Perhaps you can share with one you know about the responsibility of being a driver or a passenger in a car. The person who is driving has your life in his hands.
God charges parents to live and teach Biblical principles and children to obey these principles.
God has some very simple principles by which we are to live. He outlines these, not to punish us, but to give us fullness of life here on this earth and an option to choose eternal life in Heaven with Him, depending on our willingness to follow what is written in the Word of God. Parents have the responsibility to teach their children, and children have the responsibility to honor (obey) their parents. (Deuteronomy 6:5-9, Ephesians 6:1-4) When either of these two parameters is missing (biblical teaching, biblical honoring), there will be both temporal and spiritual consequences..
Parent’s Responsibility
Deuteronomy 6:5-9
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou [parents] shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
And thou [parents] shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
And thou [parents] shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Children’s Responsibility
Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
| God has some very simple principles by which we are to live. He outlines these, not to punish us, but to give us fullness of life here on this earth and an option to choose eternal life in Heaven with Him. |
A person’s life is an “open-book test” of discipleship, based upon what is written in the Word of God. Whether we believe that or not, it is a fact by which we will all be judged. God tells us that IF we obey His commands and statutes, He will bless us. That, however, does not mean that we will not have trials and tribulations!
A person’s life is an “open-book test” of discipleship, based upon what is written in the Word of God. Whether we believe that or not, it is a fact by which we will all be judged.
God, through the words of Joshua, tells us to serve Him by following His commands and statutes, BUT He gives us the option to reject His way: “… if it seem evil [wrong] unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Joshua clearly tells us who it is that he and his household will serve: “… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods.” (Joshua 24:15,16)
THERE ARE MANY FORMS OF REBELLION FOR BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN
There are many forms of this sinful practice, starting with small children who throw temper tantrums to teens who argue, fight and disobey their parents, teachers, and others in authority over them. Parents who permit children to throw temper tantrums without immediate correction are building destructive characteristics in their children’s future ability to obey those in authority.
Tantrums must be dealt with immediately.
With adults, rebellion may take the form of a career which takes precedence over God and family; an unscriptural marriage relationship, or many forms of sexual sin; a lifestyle of building for the “here and now” rather than for the kingdom of Heaven. Many think they are too busy to read the Word, to attend church services, to pray, to fast; yet, these are the activities that can bring victory over sin. The many forms of refusing to live according to what is written in the Word of God are rebellion, which God compares to witchcraft: “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee …” (I Samuel 15:23)
God has rules, not to punish us, but to protect us. We, however, want God’s blessings and benefits without doing what He says. Often, we as adults, do not understand why our heavenly Father gives many of His commands and statutes. They do not make sense to us, so we choose “our way” instead of God’s. This is, likewise, the natural tendency of children with their earthly parents.
The teenagers who rode in the car pictured in this article seemingly didn’t take seriously parental warnings which led to death:
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Ephesians 6:1-3
Adults do the same when they refuse to abide by God’s standards put in place for their protection to avoid eternal separation from God.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14
God tells us more than 100 times in the Scriptures that we are to be perfect, pure, righteous. He does not compromise.
As you look to the Author and Finisher of your faith, and inventory your home and life, are there things/lifestyle patterns that need to be changed?
- Will it take a tragedy to bring you to your knees,
- to help you align your priorities, your lifestyle, your time with what the Scriptures teach?
Perhaps you consider your behavior a “little sin,” but sin is sin and God will judge/punish ALL sinners who do not stop sinning. The LORD is no respecter of persons. He doesn’t accept excuses. God tells us more than 100 times in the Scriptures that we are to be perfect, pure, righteous. He does not compromise.
Think about what is happening in the lives of parents and children. Young people and adults, are you honouring (obeying) God in ALL areas of your life? “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Colossians 3:17) Have you violated biblical principles that might lead to a tragedy in your life or that of your loved ones?
Are you as a teen or adult on the road to destruction? No one is immune to the “wages” of sin and death. (Romans 6:23)
