Simple Things, Profound Lessons

Early in the morning I often hear the [thump] [thump] [thump] of Joshua’s (three-year old) feet across our plywood floors. The thumps grow louder as he gets closer and I try to wake up enough to grab a flashlight and hand it to him. We have a daily routine going where he needs to go the bathroom so he comes in to get my flashlight. He then takes the flashlight, wanders off to go potty, and then comes back and hands me the flashlight. Then I hold the light towards the door so he can see his way back towards his bed in the other room.

Yesterday morning was a little different. The same routine played out but Joshua came back later a second time.

Unusual, he must really need to go to the bathroom.

The second time Joshua was not seeking a light but rather asked if he could sleep with us. Why?

“I’m afraid of the dark” was followed by a burst of emotion.

I followed up with a few more questions. He had a bad dream and was afraid that there was a rattlesnake in his bed. So Joshua ended up in our bed for the rest of the night. Of course, they say two is company and three is a crowd… so I ventured to go sleep out in Joshua’s bed. As I lay in his bed I pondered the simple words of a child that led him to my bedside.

“I’m afraid of the dark”.

Oh that more men and women and children were truly afraid of the dark. I’ve recently listened to a sobering message from Ralph Ovadal entitled, “The Terror of the Lord”. It is focused on a verse by Paul about knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade men. It is well worth your time. Persuade men of what you may ask? The wrath to come. That hell is real place of punishment. That hell is everlasting burning that never ends… and that the scriptures describe it also as a place of outer darkness with weeping and gnashing of teeth.

I saw a small picture of God’s mercy in Christ by thinking about my experience with Joshua that morning. Here was a child coming to his father in the dark. He was afraid of the dark. He was afraid of the snake from his dream and all the fear and harm that people usually have in mind when they think of snakes. He had done, in a small way, what we all ought to do. Joshua knew that there was safety (in a sense) where his father was. I didn’t realize there was a picture unfolding before me to teach me as I l left my room and went to sleep where my child had laid. You see, Joshua and I had switched. I had gone to lay where his terrors were and Joshua went quietly back to sleep where I had been.

What a simple reminder of what the Lord has done for those in Christ! Lost in sin and darkness, afraid of death, and fleeing from it… and God provided a substitute in the Lord Jesus Christ. He provided everything needful in the Redeemer, faith to believe, and His Word and Spirit to draw. As a tender Heavenly Father he sent forth his only beloved Son to live, and suffer, and to die for sinners like me. And that savior conquered death so that death loses its sting.

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. I Timothy 1:15

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Romans 4:24-25

To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Romans 3:26

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. I John 4:10

There is much that we can learn from our interaction with our children. Out of the mouth of babes indeed has many lessons.

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Last week I had another simple lesson from daily life. We had some car trouble and so I needed someone to come pick me up from work. My ride was about 30 minutes late and I was sitting there waiting when someone from work asked me if I needed help or a ride somewhere. I confidently responded that someone would come get me. I followed it up with “I don’t know when, but they will not forget me.”

Later that night as I was thinking about how the day unfolded I noted how I had so much confidence that someone would come pick me up (which they did, by the way).

They would not forget me.

I didn’t doubt it. And then I realized that I should have that same type of confidence in the Lord. It should be that simple… and that child-like. Yet how often does unbelief and worldly mindedness crowd out what we ought to be thinking about, and doing, and who we should be trusting in?

…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. -Hebrews 13:5

I’ve been able to listen to some sermons lately during my lunch hour. I’ve come across a few particularly helpful ones that I highly recommend. One is on the topic of parenthood. Another is on what true Biblical repentance is.  They are all well worth the time.

The Other Side of Child Rearing
The Doctrine of Repentance
The Terror of the Lord