Our modern culture makes promises it cannot keep. The pursuit of pleasure promises freedom but leads to slavery. Hard work promises fulfillment but often leads to hard times and broken relationships. Possessions promise contentment, but often result in disappointment and envy. Politicians promise they can be trusted. Education promises answers, but leaves us with more questions.
King David believed the promise offered by his lustful glance at Bathsheba would bring him satisfaction. How did that work out for him? You see the modern world is not so different than the ancient world. This is the message that you are to tell your children.
You must prepare your children for a world which is deceptive by its very nature. For the most part, the people in this world do not realize they are being deceived. Most would be shocked and horrified to know that they actually are serving the cause of Satan. However, Ephesians 2:1-3 teaches that all who do not know Christ are, in fact, serving Satan, whether they realize it or not. People who think they have the answers to life without God, are, in fact, being led down a path of deception that will one day eventually end in great sadness and despair.
The world without God wants you and your children to think only of the moment. The truth is that any thought that fails to consider the honor of God ends up in disillusionment. Does this seem to be too harsh, too arbitrary? Not, really. Paul demands that we must take every thought captive. Psalm 19 desires that the words of our mouth and meditations of our hearts be pleasing to God. As noted above, when David thought of his pleasure instead of God’s disaster awaits.
The way of wickedness and deception is paved with promises that cannot be kept. If you listen to a promise that is not from God you will be be deceived! Believing a promise from some other source than God’s word leads to broken promises. This belief is the path of the wicked. This is why Solomon pleads with his son in Proverbs 4 to turn from the promises of this world:
14
Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of the evil.
15
Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on…
18
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
19
The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble.
Help your children to learn the promises made by modern culture are promises made to be broken.