The Family-Heaven or Hell

Good morning,
 
We heard a wonderful message yesterday morning from Brother Paul.  A message about heaven or hell?  What's wonderful about that?  Well, it's a wonderful thing to know the truth.  The truth that ever soul is blessed to know, is that there is a is a real hell to shun; a hell that was created for the Devil and his angles, but a hell where every unclean sinner that rejects Christ, will also be cast.  Furthermore, it's a wonderful blessing to everyone who knows the truth, there is a real heaven to gain.  A heaven where a just and holy God allows no sin, no rebellion, and no unclean thing to enter.  But He is such a loving God, He makes it accessible to all who will accept His Son's sacrifice for their sins.  It will be a New Heaven and New Earth.
 
We as family members needs to know that our soul, and the soul of each of our family members are in the balance.  If we are keenly aware of this, we will take Jonathan Edwards words to heart:   "Every Christian family ought to be, as it were, a little church consecrated to Christ and wholly influenced and governed by His rules."
 
James Dobson said:  "The God who made your children will hear your petitions.  After all, He loves them more that you do."  He also challenges us with these words:  "The most valuable contribution a parent can make to a child is to instill in him or her a genuine faith in Jesus Christ."
 
You may be thinking, Henry, don't but that responsibility on me this Monday morning, but may I say:  "It is already yours, because no one has a greater influence on your family members!"  Let's look at Genesis 5: 1. "....In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him.   3.  And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth."   God created Adam without sin, but after Adam sinned, giving up his God-given nature, and taking on a self-centered nature, he brought forth sons after his own likeness.  With Adam's sin, his nature had become corrupted, and that same nature had been imparted to his son.  Let us note how the father's sin reappears and ripens in the child, for Adam failed to love God and His commandment, and Cain failed to love his fellow man and killed his brother.  We must not forget the influence of the parent's life.  "In his own image, after his likeness."  The great truth is that these words refer not only to the blessing lost in Paradise, and to a curse that came with sin, but also to a grace that comes with redemption.
 
Parents must be what they want their children to be.  If we want to keep them from the sin of Cain, who did not love his brother, let us beware of the sin of Adam, who did not love the commandment of his God.  Let father and mother lead a life marked by love to God and man.  This is the kind of atmosphere in which loving children can be trained.  When our children hear us speak of others, of friends or enemies, let the impression they receive be one of Christ-like love.  Father and mother should also show love and respect for one another.  Their considerate and unselfish attitudes should prove to the children that love is possible and has immediate rewards.

"and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image"

When we, with a sincere heart, do what we know to do in our families, a just, holy and loving God will never fail to be true.
 
May He bless you and your family today, and please always remember that you are loved!!!

Henry