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"DO NOT DESPISE ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES". (Matthew 18:10). It is written: "But woe to the man through whom the stumbling block comes!" (Matt 18:7). From the outset, the acquisition of true faith in our Lord is the result of progressive steps taken in one's obedience to spiritual rules of conduct and the forfeit of superfluous badness. (Gal 6:15,16. James 1:21). In one's desire to follow the peaceful examples of our Lord Jesus in our lives, initially one's spiritual development will be slow and of a tender nature from the heart. So, with regard to those beginning on the "Way of Holiness", the spiritual welfare of such "babes in Christ" must be of prime concern, especially to parents. (Isaiah 35:8) (1 Cor 3:1,2). A wrong word or deed could stumble one to such an extent as to cause a complete loss of their early faith. A typical example of this, was of a boy who became friendly with a Christian family living nearby, and who by association with them learned to appreciate Christian ways, though they spoke only a little about the Lord in his presence at first. As he spent more time in their company it became apparent that he was losing some of his boisterous and unruly ways. He became calmer and more attentive, more pleasant to talk to. Sadly, there grew a "stumbling block", one which stumbled him from his association with his Christian friends. You see, his parents permitted him to grow his hair according to a new fashion that was manifestly a disgrace. (1 Cor 11:13,14 NEB). He wore his hair in locks, like a woman. A discreet explanatory letter along with quotations from the scriptures was sent to his father giving the reasons why a Christian father could not allow this friendship between his family and the boy to continue while he wore his hair at such an unGodly length for a male. Immediately on receipt of the letter, and in a rage, the boy's father paid a visit to the Christian father and demanded: 'As he has been wearing his hair long for some time now, why have you suddenly decided on this course of action?' Whether or not the Christian father's intervention was considered timely enough, was not the issue. What was of concern was that the boy's father was prepared to stumble his own son over this matter. In challenging the timing of the Christian father's intervention, the boy's father was merely seeking to justify his own actions and exempt himself of guilt before God! It is the prerogative of a father to correct his son, and in failing to do so, neither he nor his son had angelic protection or an approach to God.
Now, two years after his son lost such faithful
beginnings through his father's Godless behaviour, we watch this "stumbling
block" of a father "Now as regards you, O son of man, a watchman is what I have made you to the house of Israel, and at My mouth you must hear the word and give them warning from Me. When I say to someone wicked, 'O wicked one, you will positively die!' but you actually do not speak out to warn the wicked one from his way, he himself as a wicked one will die in his own error, but his blood I shall ask back at your own hand. But as regards you, in case you actually warn someone wicked from his way for him to turn back from it but he actually does not turn back from his way, he himself will die in his own error, whereas you yourself will certainly deliver your own soul." (Ezek 33:7-9). "And when I say to the wicked one: "You will positively die," and he actually turns back from his sin and carries on justice and righteousness, and the wicked one returns the very thing pledged, pays back the very things taken by robbery, and actually walks in the very statutes of life by not doing injustice, he will positively keep living. He will not die. None of his sins with which he has sinned will be remembered against him. Justice and righteousness are what he has carried on. He will positively keep living." (Ezek 33:14-16). (Cont. on Page 30/4/87). 27/4/87. |
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