When my precious son, Andrew, was not quite two years old we were at a function in Boise, Idaho. I do not recall what it was. What I do remember is that there were busy streets on either side of the building where the function was being held. My son and I were there with my ex husband, and his three children.
My little guy was quite the escape artist, and resisted restraint from his comings and goings. As we were all standing outside, Andrew escaped my grasp and ran right out into one of the the busy streets. Thankfully there happened to be no cars coming at that particular moment. I ran out into the street and grabbed him, and spanked his diapered butt all the way back off the street. He was howling, and I was yelling, and this upset my step children very badly. They felt disturbed at my actions toward my little son. It wasn't fun for me! Yet, all I could think was that my tiny son, whom I love more than life, did not, at that early age, understand the deadly danger of streets and cars. He was not at an age where I could explain it to him. I could, however, create a fear in him of what I would do if he ventured out into a street again. I chose this response as a measure to protect my son from the potentially terrible consequences of playing in the street. If he didn't understand to fear the cars, he could be made to understand to fear me. He never went onto a street again. My method worked, for all of our benefit. I did what I did because I love him.
I have been seeing memes suggesting that teaching our children of hell is child abuse. If hell is an actual place, wouldn't you warn those you love not to go there, at any cost? I think letting a child be exposed to deadly danger, minus any warning or attempt to curb the danger, is child abuse. There are those of us who have had confrontation with Jesus Christ, and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is real, Heaven is real, Lucifer is real, and hell is real. The blinders have been lifted to see the truth of a thing, and that compels us for the sake of those we love (all of humanity) to speak of the truth so that others may be saved from eternal damnation, and the lies of the devil which are designed to destroy us. I think teaching children that Santa Claus is real, so later they doubt the reality of Christ Jesus - rather seeing him, too, as a fictional character - is child abuse - neglecting to protect our children spiritually with God's truth.
Love is not all we need. Jesus is who we need. He is where salvation is found. His command, to be obeyed, is love. I would rather tell the truth of a thing, and be unpopular and thought ridiculous, than to participate in a deadly lie. I just love and care too much for humanity to keep this gift of salvation to myself. That would be the height of selfishness. Sinful, indeed. And, so does the Heavenly Father love us so. That is why He humbled Himself to come as a man, and pay the penalty for our sin. He desires for us to escape the torments of hell in favor of a Heavenly eternity with Him. And, He disciplines the child he loves, for our understanding only goes so far. He would not have us, in our ignorance (darkness), playing in dangerous territory that threatens our life, and he will discipline those he loves - for our salvation.
God is not a meany. God is love. He is also truth. He is Light. And God is Holy. Sin cannot reside with Him, or within His Heavenly Home. Light cannot reside with darkness. We cannot hope to enter Heaven while in sin and darkness. So, the Heavenly Father has made the provision, in Christ Jesus (the only Way), for a Heavenly eternal life. It will never be aside from a relationship with Jesus. Believe in Him. Repent. Call on Him, and submit to His Godhood - daily - and you will be saved.
Today if Andrew would play in the street I could assume - because of his age - it would be a choice - deliberate. He has transcended the age where I could be expected to do anything about it. He has had his childhood training, and is an adult now, making his own choices. We all have a choice to make about what we believe about Christ Jesus, and this belief will shape our response to Him. I pray each choice is for eternal life in Him, rather than to spurn His gift of salvation. May God keep each of you, and reveal to you the truth of the matter. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.
"... you have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with sons, "My son, don't take lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by him; For whom the Lord loves, he chastens, And scourges every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with sons, for what son is there whom his father doesn't discipline? But if you are without discipline, whereof all have been made partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not sons. Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? For they indeed, for a few days, punished us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby."
Hebrews:12:5-11
"My son, don't despise Yahweh's discipline, Neither be weary of his reproof: For whom Yahweh loves, he reproves; Even as a father the son in whom he delights."
Proverbs:3:11-12
"...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
Philippians:2:12(b)
"Serve Yahweh with fear, And rejoice with trembling."
Psalm:2:11
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