by Pastor Art Kohl
This world is a vast fantasy land for children. America leads the way. Seventy percent of all Americans have been to either Disneyland or Disney World. Children give great adoration towards fantasy characters from Mickey Mouse to SpongeBob. Television, movies, cartoons, video games, computer games, and the internet all compete for a child's undivided attention.
On the other hand, sixty percent of all children in America, twelve years of age or under, have never been inside of any type of church! The average youth in our country can only name two or three of the Ten Commandments. Fantasy and relativism have kept our children from considering the claims of Jesus Christ.
Barring something traumatic, a child's psychology, is usually set by age five. Whether teens or adults live in fantasy and have a hard time coping with reality or they live in reality and have a hard time tolerating fantasy often depends on the influences they are subject to in the first five years of their life. Parents, the influences you allow in your child's life in the first five years are vital.
Romans 14:10 says, "...for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." Is this true? Then this ought to strike some fear and responsibility into the heart of every parent, and cause them to prepare for the day when their boys and girls will give their account to God. If what Jesus said is not true, don't worry about it.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6). If this is true, then every parent should - at the earliest possible moment in their child's life - try to lead them to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. If this is not true, then don't worry about it.
Jesus said about the Bible, "And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:47-48). If it is true, then get your children out of fantasy land and into the Bible! If what Jesus said here is not true, do not worry about it.
Do not be afraid of the Bible and the Lord. They are your friends and your children's friends! No matter how old your children are, start now to teach them God's Word. Purchase some King James Bibles and begin reading through the New Testament with your children. Be sure they have accepted Christ as their personal Saviour. Find a good Bible believing, preaching, and practicing church in your area and attend there faithfully. Drive twenty or thirty miles if you must to find such a church.
Wean your children off the movies, TV, cartoons, and video games. Begin to prepare them to meet their God. Teach them to read. Spend quality time with them. As they live in reality they will be better equipped to face and handle the trials, testings and burdens they will surely face in their future.
I accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour when I was twelve year old. My Dad came to know the Lord around the same time. He read his Bible, memorized Scriptures, learned to pray and taught my brothers and I what he could about the Lord. He became a good leader and took us to church. I'm grateful for what my Dad did for me. As I near fifty years of age, I am grateful that he prepared me well for reality.
My children are in their twenties and were exposed to very little fantasy and much reality. We kept them away from TV, cartoons, movies, etc. We read to them and taught them to read. This has helped them in their foundation for life, especially in their earliest years.
Fantasy does not help for here or eternity. Joshua said, "...choose you this day whom ye will serve; ...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)
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