“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”1
Bill Snell was a very successful businessman, the president of a civic club, and a member of the local school board. He was also a devoted family man, and was especially close to his son, Jerry. Whenever possible, Jerry loved to go with his father wherever he went, and would often go to work with him at his furniture store. He became known as Mr. Jerry by many of the customers.
However, one place Bill would never go with his wife and Jerry was to Church and Sunday school claiming that he was too busy. This greatly disappointed Jerry who loved church and Sunday school.
One Sunday Jerry’s Sunday school teacher asked him, “When you get to heaven, what are you going to do first?” Without hesitation, Jerry replied, “I’m not going to heaven! I’m going with my dad. We go everywhere together.”
Soon after this Jerry’s Sunday school teacher told Bill what his son had said when he asked him about Heaven. “That’s just like him,” Bill said, “he always wants to be with me.”
“And where are you going Bill,” Jerry’s teacher gently asked him. “Where are you taking Jerry?” Bill knew exactly what she meant but felt too ashamed to answer.
The question plagued Bill. The thought, “Where am I taking my son,” kept playing over and over in his mind. Fortunately, soon after, Bill accepted Jesus as his Savior and knew then that he and Jerry would both be going to Heaven and be together forever.2
A timely question for all parents is, “Where are you taking your children?”1
Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to so live that my children, my loved ones, my friends, and my contacts will know that I am a true follower of Jesus and that they too will want to go where I’m going knowing that their sins are also forgiven, and that they have been given the gift of eternal life by accepting Jesus as their Savior. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
NOTE: For help in knowing where you are going, be sure to read the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Christian.”
1. Ephesians 6:4 (NASB).
2. Adapted from KneEmail #670. http://www.oakhillcoc.org.
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