Salvation is Not Inherited

Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him. 2 Kings 23:25 (NKJV)

King Josiah turned to the Lord with all his heart like no other king before him or after. He found the Book of the Law, read it, followed it, and then read it to all of Judah. He focused on eliminating every high place, removing every idolatress object from every temple in the land, and he executed all of the priests of the pagan gods. Chapter 23 focuses on how Josiah worked on stomping out anything that was not of God, but it doesn't mention anything about raising his sons in the way of the Lord. Proverbs 22:6 written says, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it." Even though Josiah was a righteous king, his sons were not. His two sons and grandson were the last rulers of Judah, and they did evil in the sight of the Lord.

Just like King Josiah, our children's walk with God does not necessarily mimic our walk. We may have a relationship with Jesus, but if we don't do the work, our children may not. Ephesians 6:4 says, "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." Our jobs as parents and grandparents are to bring our children in the ways of the Lord. It is important train our children in the ways of the Lord at an early age, because by the time they are 9, a child's basic moral foundation has already been formed. When do the work of training up our kids in the way of the Lord, we help them develop a relationship with Jesus and an eternity with Him in heaven.

Choose to be active in training your child or grandchild in the ways of the Lord. Read bible stories to them during the day or at bedtime, teach them to pray daily, and pray for their salvation. Talk to your kids about Jesus, and when they are ready, invite them to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Make regular church attendance part of their lives, get them involved in youth events, and sign them up for summer camp. Choose to be the role model for them, not only teaching them how to live a life with Christ but showing them also. Just because you are saved and doing the right things, it does not mean your children or grandchildren will be saved. You have to do the work to lead them in the way of the Lord.