Molding Eternity in your Children’s Lives

"God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." - Genesis 2:7

In the beginning, God created the man in His own image. He leant and took the dust of the ground, molded a human shape and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. But that’s not the end – he also transferred His capacity to mold. Men and women, fathers and mothers – we are molding the eternity within our children lives even if we know or not. We are "molding" them physical (they "have" our eyes, hair…and we are happy…or not) but we are also molding their character – they "look" so much like us (and we are happy…or not!).

Ok. But what’s the problem? Reading the Bible, especially in the New Testament, God reveals His purpose with man: our Father from Heaven, who is well pleased in Jesus Christ, his Son, wants to bring many sons to glory, sons molded by the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ likeness. In God’s presence will be only the man who has a character like Jesus has. The problem is that after sin entered in the world, the man lost His image, His likeness; and it is our corrupted character that we are transferring and molding in our children lives.

Now, the good news: we are allowed to work together with the Holy Ghost to recover, step by step, His lost image in our lives. By His grace, like in the beginning, we are molded again in His image and likeness. Also, we received the power to mold our children lives after His image and likeness, with Holy Ghost’s help.

Question: When do we actually start molding our children lives? Very simple: when you start molding your life, because you can only give what you already have/are. So, even if you don’t have children yet, every decision that you are making now is molding your children lives – the decision of being born again, to marry a real Christian (Will he be a priest in you future family? Will she be a suitable helper for you?) or to be involved in God’s ministry. Starting today, mold Jesus image in your life/children lives, taking right and holy decisions.

Maybe you have children. Have you ever thought about who is molding your children? School teachers? Sunday school teachers? The street? Internet? TV? Yes, they have an influence in your kids’ lives – that’s good or bad. But, the most important influence has to be yours. The parents have to mold their children lives. How are they doing this? What instruments do they have from God?

First, we have the Bible. Are you reading the Bible with your children? They have to know that this Book changed your life and it can change their lives too. The Bible is molding our characters, transforming them into a character that resembles Jesus’ character. Why? Because, Jesus is the living Word of God. (John 1:1)

We are allowed to enter in God’s presence by prayer, in Jesus name. We have this opportunity that the people from Old Testament didn’t have. What are we doing with this privilege? We must teach our children to pray as soon they can speak. It will be a blessing for them. When my little son, which is 1 year old, is watching us praying, he puts his little hands together and walks around us. It’s the biggest achievement that we’ve done in his life. Given to our human nature, we don’t like to pray. We are coming on earth clenching our fists and we don’t want to change this, till we are in a coffin and somebody will open our empty fists. Teach your children to see in prayer a living style, a shelter in difficult times and a joy to share in the good times.

Another instrument is your example. Some say that the personal example is the most important instrument to influence people around you, but…keep this in mind: it is the only one! Be that person you are asking your kid to be. Walk in Jesus’ ways and your kids will follow you. Walk in world ways and your kids will do the same.

Final, but not less important, is the Church. That’s a very good instrument which has to teach, discipline and mold you and your children. Be involved and involve your children in church ministries. You may start with Sunday school or with kids’ choir (if you have). Too many Christians "raised in church", are doing nothing because their parents were doing nothing or they were not involved since childhood in church ministries. Let your church (if it’s a healthy one) to be an instrument in Holy Ghost hands, for you and for your children.

God wants us in His glory, but only if we have likeness of His Son. His will for our kids is the same. So, mold the eternity in your kids' lives, according to His will.