Before the child was, love is.
Before my children were conceived, I was already anticipating their adult years and faithful service to God.
Actually, even before I married in my mid-20s, I was dreaming about the joys of seeing my future children live for Christ, participate successfully in society and have happy relationships.
I was graciously experiencing these things because of God’s mercy and I wanted my future kids to have the same.
This array of hopes for Jessica and Melissa have come true and I thank God daily for His gracious protection and provision for the girls.
It is a beautiful thing to see a passionately embraced vision actually come about.
Yes, it’s true that I’ve had a number of hopes over the years that did not turn out as expected.
But the most important hope of a Christian parent — a child who chooses to be a faithful adult — has happened.
And I’ve been blessed beyond measure.
I was reminded of this reason for praise this morning while reading Titus 1 in the One-Year Bible for Oct. 26. In verse 2, the Apostle Paul described himself as an one sent to share “a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.”
Wow.
God not only conceived the plan for man’s salvation before there was even a creation, but He also prepared it and promised it long before He ever delivered it.
Talk about looking ahead!
Before the first star was formed by the Carpenter of Creation — Jesus Himself — God had already established that the Morning Star would eventually come to provide a rescue plan for sinful people living on a little green and blue ball in the immense blackness of space.
It’s hard to fathom such an idea until we consider how people today anticipate the life steps of children before they are conceived or even before the future parents reach adulthood.
It is this “love in advance” that prompts many adults to have well-developed ideas about parenting even before they are married. These ideas become key elements in the courtship process for couples considering marriage and, subsequently, starting a family.
These ideas regarding future children often have a big influence on career selection, on the type of community and residence selected, the financial priorities pattern, etc..
It’s all about preparing the way so that one’s future children have a better opportunity for a blessed life.
Many of you have experienced this same “love in advance” journey with me and are now enjoying the harvest of those sometimes-demanding efforts in the field of child-rearing.
What about for the parents with adult children not yet bearing fruit for the Kingdom?
God knows that disappointment. After all, don’t the majority of humans fall into that category?
He never gives up on them, though.
He keeps loving. He keeps calling. He keeps sending small blessings in hopes that they’ll see and acknowledge His love and sovereignty.
He keeps putting up with a lot of garbage in hopes that the light bulb will come on one day and repentance will occur.
You see, God doesn’t want any soul to perish but for all to come to Jesus and find salvation.
Dear friends, if your kids aren’t saved, keep praying. Keep anticipating the joy of their surrender to Christ and their sharing with you the faith that saves.
You anticipated such before your child was even born, though you had no guarantee that such would happen.
Don’t give up on that vision.
Keep praying.
Keep role-modeling.
Keep showing “love in advance.”
God did this for you when you were spiritually clueless and you eventually responded.
The same just might happen for your unsaved adult child.
And the salvation that God prepared before the beginning of time will be theirs forever when time is no more.
As always, I love you
Martin
