“And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear?”
Genesis 42:22
As parents we all like to give our children special treats. Perhaps it’s a unique birthday gift or a cone of their favorite ice cream. I suppose you could say it is our desire to give them a childhood worth remembering; and we can prove it. It would take hours to review all the pictures we have taken. These snapshots tell the story of memories we want our children to retain.
These priceless images taken at Disney World, the beach, or on that unforgettable camping trip all testify of our desire to give our children a childhood to remember. However, sometimes we can give them memories which will last far longer than a day at the amusement park. Sometimes the memories we create can even influence their future walk with God. Of course, our local church is always a good place to start for spiritual lessons; however, great lessons do not always occur behind stained glass. I can recall several such moments as they relate to my Christian life.
For example, I remember when I was first told of the great love God had for me. I was told about His selfless sacrifice on Mount Calvary. I was reminded how He was willing to die on the cross so I might have eternal life. His unfailing love on my behalf was made clear to me as I continued to hear the message of salvation. Suddenly, in hearing this wonderful doctrine of grace, I began to sense something familiar. I realized I recognized this kind of love. Déjà vu! I’ve seen this before. But where was it? How can one experience the love of God? Then suddenly I remembered it was from my parents. It was their sacrificial love I was reliving. I remembered how they sacrificed for me which helped me to relate to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
I remember when I was in high school my father encouraged me to take typing. As a teenager I thought only sissies took typing. Boys were supposed to play ball and do manly stuff, certainly not waste their time sitting behind a typewriter. I didn’t realize I would end up spending much of my life sitting behind a keyboard.
However, at Dad’s somewhat threatening insistence, I signed up for the course. On my first day of class I found it would require access to a typewriter at home to complete the assignments. Of course, we didn’t have one, and I didn’t think we could afford one as our family was usually on a very tight budget. This was great! Finally I had my way out of the secretarial pool. Yet, when I informed Dad of the requirement he told me it would not be a problem. A few days later we went to purchase a small portable typewriter so I could take the class. It was several years later when I discovered Dad sold his old truck in order to purchase that typewriter. That’s just one example of the hundreds of sacrificial gifts my mother and father provided for me when I was growing up. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons I understood the love of Jesus Christ as something I could identify with. You see, Déjà vu! I have seen it before.
After I received Jesus Christ as my Saviour there came the day I stumbled in the faith. Oh, it wasn’t a great fall, but it was clearly a serious fumble. It’s a strange thing when a new Christian has a failure, as it is one of those things you just don’t want to tell God about, although you know He already knows. Yet, at my moment of feeling like a big Christian failure with my “Wanted Dead or Alive” poster plastered all over the pearly gates, the Holy Spirit gave assurance of God’s wonderful grace and forgiveness. He reminded me God was always willing to forgive and restore my lost fellowship. Suddenly, I had the thought; I’ve experienced this kind of forgiveness before, but when and where? Then I remembered it was from my mother and father. On the many occasions when I messed up and fumbled when I was a child, I was always assured of their forgiveness and unconditional love. I was taught to put away self-doubt and believe I could accomplish anything. Déjà vu! I have seen it before.
What a wonderful day when I knew my Lord had called me into His service. Yet, it was also a little intimidating to work for the God of the universe. I had always been told to work hard and be diligent about my activities, but now it was the Holy Spirit reminding me that I had certain responsibilities and obligations as a part of the family of God. Suddenly I had the thought; I’ve experienced this message before. Oh yes, now I remember, I grew up hearing there was no excuse for not doing your best job, for not working to be better, and hard work was the only way to earn your bread and sleep with a clear conscience. Serving my Heavenly Father would be very similar to serving my earthly father. Déjà vu, I’ve seen this before.
I remember one of the first times in my Christian life when I just needed to talk with God. Of course, I had already experienced wonderful times of prayer with my Lord, but this was not just ordinary prayer, this was something more. Looking back, I suppose I wasn’t even sure what I needed to talk about, or what I needed to say. I just needed someone to talk with. I needed someone who could understand the things which I couldn’t even verbalize. But how do you let God know that you just want to be close? Words don’t even have to be spoken. All you want to do is just crawl up in your Heavenly Father’s lap and feel someone cares and understands. This was new ground for me. But suddenly, I had a strange thought. As the Holy Spirit reminded me of my acceptance in Christ, and the boldness I could have in coming to the throne of grace, suddenly I remembered. I’ve experienced this before! From my earliest childhood memories I recalled how my parents made sure I could always talk with them about anything. Now, that didn’t automatically make the conversation easy, but they were always accessible. Déjà vu, I’ve seen this before.
Then it came, that day in my Christian life when tragedy invaded my tranquil life. I wasn’t sure which way to turn. My peace evaporated as a big part of my world crumbled away. Again, the Holy Spirit as the blessed Comforter came and reminded me that God was always by my side to offer His peace beyond understanding. Wait a minute, I’ve seen this before! Then I remembered being afraid of the storm when I was a little boy and yet feeling that wonderful warmth of safety when snuggled close to Mom and Dad. Their presence could make the most dreadful tempest run its course without fright. Déjà vu, I’ve seen this before.
As I have grown older I have begun to realize Christianity looks a lot like childhood. Therefore, it becomes of paramount importance to give your child a childhood worth remembering. You see, our childhood helps make us who we are while the memories of our childhood can sustain us through some pretty cold realities of adulthood. As adults we realize the imaginary monsters that once hid under the bed or in the dark closet don’t hide anymore, they are real. These villains seeking our harm walk our streets and are even more frightening than those who sent us huddling under our covers in the dark of night.
As we grow up, we enter the world of jobs, mortgages, and roofs that leak when it rains. In the adult world we learn bad things do happen, and the boogie man is real. Life can be hard; brutally hard.
Perhaps that is why all those memories are so important. They let us go back to a place lost in time, a place where things were simpler and life was filled with wonder. It was a time when most things could be explained, and those that couldn’t be explained were not important anyway. Childhood is that safe harbor where you can retreat when life begins to crush you in. Childhood memories can be empowering. Oh yes, there was a day when I could be a cowboy, a soldier, and fireman all on the same day. It was a wonderful world where miracles could happen right in your own back yard.
By the end of the day I could close my eyes in peaceful sleep knowing of the villains I had defeated and the dragons I had slain. Right had defeated wrong, and the good guys had once again prevailed. I slumbered in perfect rest knowing I was under the watchful care of my Mom and Dad.
I am mindful of the millions of children who have their childhood stolen from them by war, disease, poverty, or other evils of this present world. They dare not dream. They dare not risk the disappointment. But your children are not so impoverished. You have the opportunity to give them a childhood worth remembering. For in so doing you will be giving them one of the greatest gifts you can give. I know human graces can never match the grace and love of God; however, it can serve as an object lesson for future faith. For in this childhood gift lies many of the sustaining foundations we sometimes need to fall back on. But, more importantly such a childhood can build a pathway which may lead them directly to God.
In over forty years of ministry and after preaching thousands of messages, after studying under great teachers and sitting under great men, I still maintain some of the most life changing lessons I ever learned about God came from Mom and Dad.
Thus when God began to reveal to me His love and grace, His forgiveness and favor, His acceptance and strength, I realized they were not new concepts to me. They were maximized and taken to a higher power, but I recognized them because I had seen them before. May all children see likewise.