NO GOOD TIME FOR SIN
There is a mind-set in some people that says, “I am not responsible until after I have sowed my wild oats.” Exactly what one means (i.e. personally thinks) about responsibility to God is wrong? No one can willfully disobey God whenever they arrive at an age when they know the difference between right and wrong.
EXAMPLE and COMMENT:
As a person develops from birth, there is a time when they understand that lying is wrong (i.e. should not be done). There is a time when an individual realizes that hurting another person deliberately is wrong (i.e. perhaps deadly). There is a time when one knows that to take things that belong to other people is wrong (i.e. against the law). Indeed, there is a time in the individuals physical and mental development that they are aware of their amenability to the civil authorities and that if they break civil laws they will have to answer to the courts.
As one develops in the previous ways they also develop a sense of responsibility (i.e. an understanding that their actions are being observed by God also). Whenever a person’s intellect reaches a state when they know that they are not doing that which God requires of them they are sinners and need to think about making some corrections in their manner (i.e. standard of living) before man and before God. This is known generally as reaching the age of accountability (i.e. to God). A Bible references that shows man’s responsibility – Mark 7:14 “And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:” KJV
At some point whenever a person reaches an understanding of their lost condition (i.e. the need to correct their disobedience to God) with regard to God and the things that are righteous they must make a decision about their life. The decision cannot be deferred, it must be made one way or the other – A person will either choose to serve God or will become a servant of the Devil by ignoring their responsibility to serve God. NOTE: Joshua of long ago – Josh. 24:14-15, 14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve ; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (KJV)
Young people need to be taught by godly parents that there is a God and that God is truly real and that God is great. Parents need to instruct their children that disobedience to God’s instructions is sin. Parents need to tell their children about salvation from sin at an appropriate time in the children’s physical and mental development. Parents need to correct their children’s actions and speech that indicate that they are becoming responsible to God’s law and tell them that sin in their life must be corrected. Parents ought to encourage their children to listen closely to teaching about sin and the cure for sin in the lives of sinners. Indeed, parents ought to tell their children about God’s plan of salvation for the sinner.
Are we conscious of the passing of time with our children as they grow physical and mentally? We must understand that it is our duty to God, to ourselves, and to our children to keep them up-to-date about God and God’s expectations of their actions and conduct. Parents and grandparents, are we doing the job? We must!