THE NATURE OF A CHILD “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies” (Psalm 58:3)
Children learn to speak lies before they can walk or talk; those stomach aches stop quickly when picked up and cuddled. The seriousness of their plight lies in two natural hindrances to their conversion: first, they are born ignorant and therefore they must be taught discipline. The doctrine they are early taught will be the foundation of their faith – what they are to believe; and the discipline to which they are early subjected will be the foundation of their practice – what they are to live. The responsibility to teach children truth is a very solemn responsibility. Though God will bring Sunday School teachers public school teachers, as well as pastors to judgment to give account for their teaching, yet God holds parents under much severer judgment than all other teachers combined! Children are born with a “tabula rasa” – a “blank table” without the knowledge and fear of God. They must have this knowledge and fear ingrained through teaching and example; for as long as they remain in this ignorance, they are laid open to Satan to be led wherever he will. As a blind mind and dead conscience are companions, they sin without shame. Therefore their consciences must be taught. So long as they remain in this natural ignorance there is no hope of their salvation. Ignorance of God springs from natural alienation from Him; causing them to seek to fulfill their own evil: if you have compassion on your sons and daughters, labor that they may know God and His Christ. If children are not to remain forever alienated from the Savior, parents must teach them the worth of Christ, their need of Christ and how they may come to Christ. Children are taught English, math, etc., to prepare them to make a living, and that is a worthy accomplishment, but of a billion times more worth is it to teach them the knowledge of the Holy God. They can go to Heaven without the former, but not without the later. Children born in our families are born unto God and a strict account will be required of us. God commits these children to us to teach and to train, and being so committed to us we will justly and most certainly be required to give account concerning them on the Day of Judgment. Parents are the means of their original corruption and guiltiness; therefore it is the parents whom God requires to teach and to restrain them. If our children have received from us their corrupt natures, what a crime if through our neglect they are finally damned for it! How carnal and careless must those parents be who have no more compassion and pity for their children than to prevent their everlasting misery! If your child shall lack knowledge and restraint through any gross negligence of your own, your punishment will be terrifying in the day of the Lord. Salvation is unattainable without knowledge, for “How then shall they call upon Him in Whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard?” (Rom.10:14) Man’s chief enemy is the ignorance of Scripture. Sin is heinous whether committed knowingly or in ignorance, ignorance does not excuse any evil action, but does prevent any effort to restrain it.
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