News from UPCI Ladies Ministries DOZ

SACRIFICING OR SANCTIFYING OUR FUTURE

By Ruth Harvey. DOZ Director

In the beginning part of August 2002 an urgent all-points bulletin was issued-A Child Was Missing! Immediately a rescue attempt ensued and for days search parties combed the surrounding area. During the entire ordeal whenever the people grew thirsty or tired, they would gather in the yard of the victim's family to recoup their energy. Scattered throughout the vicinity were several old cars that belonged to the grandfather. Those old junkers had seen better days, but for some reason the elderly man kept hanging on to them. Eventually the rescue team started using the ancient cars as a place to sit while drinking cold drinks and eating sandwiches. After days of harrowing futile searching, there was still no sign of the missing child. Anguish filled the hearts of his family. Where was their beloved little boy?

Finally, after a lengthy passage of time he was discovered inside one of the old junk cars where he had decided to play. Unable to escape from the ancient vehicle, the play area became his tomb. One of the searchers said, "If only I had known he was in there!" Many times throughout the course of the frantic search, she had sat on that very car drinking her soda and never even knew the missing child was only inches away. The little boy was so close to freedom, yet he perished inside an old piece of junk that someone kept holding on to in hopes it might prove to be valuable some day. Oh, how that family probably came to hate the ancient car that became the grave of their little boy. If only they could have gazed into the future and realized what a tragedy would arise from that worthless automobile, it probably would have been hauled away long ago. Tragically, it claimed a life which could never be restored.

This true story grips our hearts, causing many emotions to rise within our souls. Nevertheless, it sounds a solemn spiritual warning to each one of us. If we do not continually take stock of the things allowed to accumulate in our lives, heartbreaking consequences could occur in our families. Oftentimes when adults make bad decisions, the children will pay the penalty for their parent's mistakes. This principle is born out in God's Word. When studying the nation of Israel it becomes very apparent that their children suffered severely when the parents turned their backs on God. Coming under the influence of the surrounding wicked nations, the Israelites began sacrificing their children on the heathen altars of Molech (Jeremiah 32:35, Ezekiel 23:37). Embracing the idolatrous practices of the heathen, they sacrificed their future on the altars of their own lustful desires.

Likewise, in this modern-day hedonistic culture, we cannot allow our children to be destroyed on the present day altars of sensuality, no restraint, godlessness and debauchery prevailing in the land. America was founded on godly principles and the quest for religious freedom. However, these foundational moral truths are increasingly under vicious attack as materialism, perversion, drugs, alcohol, pornography, promiscuity, filthy entertainment and abortion on demand are embraced, defended and propagated.

In the name of freedom of speech, our offspring are being exploited and defiled through the medium of pornography. Abortion clinics are gobbling up our posterity. The minds of our babies are being distorted and destroyed by filthy films and murderous virtual reality games. Drugs, alcohol and nicotine are like a cancer eating away at their potential. Promiscuity is protected, promoted and even encouraged by various groups with corrupt agendas. Trash is piling up on every side and if we are not careful, this junk could claim the lives of our children just like that old junker entombed the aforementioned child.

Isn't it time for us to stand up and refuse to allow our sons and daughters to be sacrificed on the altars of depraved desires? In retrospect one of the women searching for the missing boy mournfully lamented, "If only we had known he was in there, we could have rescued him in time." Thankfully we still have time. We can salvage our future! It's time to take stock and cleanse any ungodly influences from our lives, our homes, our churches, and our nation. Our children must never be sacrificed on these flaming altars of destruction. It is high time to sanctify our future! According to I Timothy 4:5, sanctification comes through the Word of God and prayer! Instead of sacrificing our future, let us sanctify it by restoring godly principles and prayer in our homes. The Ten Commandments are just as essential in this modern day as they were when God gave them to Moses thousands of years ago. Stealing, killing, coveting, lying, murdering, and adultery are still wrong! Honoring your father and mother is not antiquated. Going to church and keeping the Sabbath day holy is still a necessity even in the new millennium. When God and His laws are shoved aside and moved out of the center of our lives and nation, everything goes haywire!! However, there is good news-we can renew the godly strength of this country within our personal sphere of influence. It is time to stop wringing our hands in frustration over the moral disintegration of our nation and start taking action in our own lives. The ability to effect positive, powerful change is at our fingertips. Instead of sacrificing our future, let's sanctify it through the Word of God and prayer!