As Long As You Live - Deuteronomy 31:12-13

“Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.”
- Deuteronomy 31:12-13

    In the iconic Sinatra tune, “My Way,” he sings, “Regrets, I’ve had a few . . .” Couldn’t we all make that same claim? And when you’ve reached my age there may certainly be more than a few. But my greatest regret is that I failed to come to saving faith before I had reached the ripe young age of fifty. I think of the years I squandered my chances of finding rest in the Lord. And there are many in my life who still hold reservations about the veracity of my faith. I hold no grudges; all of us will be judged, myself and my detractors.
    My second greatest and most painful regret is that I failed to bring my children to Christ. I know well what our Savior had to say about those who are the cause of another’s unbelief. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” - Matthew 18:6. My consternation is not with my children; it is with myself - I am the one who failed. It is my fervent hope and prayer that one day my children will pick up a Bible and let the Holy Spirit open their eyes and hearts.
    Reflecting on our title verse we see there are four basic tenets tied neatly together by a final declaration by God - hear, learn, fear and observe - as long as you live! The law was provided not only to show us how to live but also to act as a witness against us when we fail to live as instructed. For those of us who refuse to comply with God’s law, it would have been better for us if there had never been any law! But we have the law and the command of God -  “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” - Deuteronomy 6:6-7.  I challenge any living pastor or theologian to contradict the command of God. No vagaries will do. There is no ambiguity: we are to teach our children! This is no window dressing for appearance sake; this is what we are to do. We are to do this for our children’s sake - “and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” - 2 Timothy 3:15.
    This is the day - this is the hour - this is the moment. Let us rejoice knowing - “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” - 3 John 1:4. That we may all find rest in Christ the Savior, is my fervent prayer.