OP-ED: TODAYS LITTLE BOY IS TOMORROWS GRANDFATHER

Ephesians 6:4 (KJV): “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

By Van Yandell

As we grow older we realize the days get longer but the years seem shorter. Time becomes precious and seems to be limited by our thoughts, habits and attitudes.

We understand time has placed us in bondage. We are slaves to time. Our lives are governed by watches, clocks and calendars. It seems as though everything in our lives happens on a schedule.

We go to work, eat, sleep, and schedule our free-time activities based on dates and time. Why is this concept important? Time controls our lives and it also limits our lives. We are in bondage to time.

Even if we live to be one-hundred years old, how long is that in the span of time? Astronomers and geologists tell us this earth is four and one-half billion years old.  One hundred years is but a flash of light.

Why is this important to us? If a father raises a son or daughter and does not take the time to teach right from wrong, acceptable from unacceptable, expedient from foolish and success versus failure; time is wasted and responsibility is ignored. Ignorance may be bliss in some cases but this is not one of them.

We must also never forget beliefs (positive and negative) and prejudices are passed on through generations. We might be surprised at how our thoughts are parallel to our grandfathers.

Two months before I retired a student was heard by another teacher saying “I’m going to bring a gun to school and kill Mr. Yandell.”

That was before the onslaught of school shootings and I did not take it too seriously. Perhaps I should have! He was brought to me and we had a “little talk.” I explained to him what would happen if he succeeded in killing me. He would spend many years locked up in an 8’ x 8’ cell.

At some point in time I realized, no one had ever taught that young boy right from wrong. Was that his fault? Absolutely not! He was not the societal failure; his parents were!

Colossians 3:21 “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” When a parent doesn’t take time to teach a child the basic concepts of a civilized society, trouble is on the horizon. Hate is not natural, it has to be taught.

So, who am I saying is responsible for the chaos we are seeing in today’s world? Obviously the guilty are more than one.

Movies, cartoons and many books make killing acceptable. Sex is a sport and vengeance is not only approved, it is encouraged.

Male father figures are essential in child rearing. Genesis 2: 24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

While Genesis 2: 24 is not politically correct to many in today’s world, it is still a teaching of God. If you want to argue this point, argue with Him.

Mankind cannot make up the rules; it simply isn’t permitted. Our personal opinions and preferences do not apply. Only God’s opinion matters!

Yes, today’s little boy is tomorrow’s grandfather. I very clearly remember being a little boy growing up in a small western Kentucky town. Riding my bicycle to a fishing pond about two miles from town was a way of life.

Going to school, playing baseball and being forced to sit through church services were a part of my life as much as breathing.

Suddenly, here I am nearly an octogenarian and wondering where the time has gone. Sarcasm to confront old age is required. The stiffness of muscles and joints in the early morning hours are definitely a reality.

The term “nuclear family” (father, mother and children) is now, considered by many as being obsolete. Possibly politically incorrect would apply but it should not. The traditional family was the backbone of America and the societal acceptance of that must return if survival is considered a goal.

The point is, all fathers must take up their responsibilities and teach their children the pure, ethical, integrated and moral concepts of life. If these principles of civilized life are not conveyed from generation to generation, civilization will suffer a painful and violent death.

The resulting state is chaos and has become obvious. This is not limited to a specific location, country or family. It is world-wide and appears to be increasing exponentially.

Why have we failed? We can blame many individuals and people groups. But the truth remains society as a whole has failed.

Proverbs 22: 6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This is as true today as it was 3000 years ago when King Solomon wrote it! Plain and simple, this verse leaves little room for interpretation.

Pure negligence is the only descriptive term offered for many fathers and mothers in the twenty-first century. A decent man doesn’t impregnate a woman and walk away.

Teaching children the importance of being a contributive individual in a civilized society and to follow the teachings of the Holy Bible are among and may be the most important role of a father.

To follow the Lord Jesus in faith certainly has more advantages than disadvantages. I ask the non-believer, “What if you’re wrong?”

The Bible teaches there is only one eternal salvation. That is by a faith based belief (Ephesians 2: 8) that Christ Jesus was crucified (Matthew 27: 35) for the remission of sin (Romans 4: 25), resurrected (Matthew 28: 6) and ascended alive into Heaven (Acts 1: 9).

Van Yandell is a retired Industrial Arts teacher, an ordained gospel evangelist and missionary, from Fredonia, Kentucky. His email is vmy3451@gmail.com