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"DO NOT DESPISE ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES". It is written: "But woe to the man through whom the stumbling block comes!" (Matt 18:7). From the outset, the acquisition of true faith in our Lord is the result of progressive steps being taken in obedience to spiritual rules of conduct and the forfeit of superfluous badness. (Gal 6:15,16. James 1:21). In our efforts to follow the righteous example of our Lord Jesus, our spiritual development may initially be slow and of a tender nature. So, with regard to those beginning on the Way of Christ, the spiritual welfare of these "babes in Christ" must be of prime concern, especially to parents. (1 Cor 3:1,2). A wrong word or deed could stumble one to such an extent as to cause a complete loss of their early faith. A typical example of this, was of a boy who became friends with a Christian family living nearby, and who by association with them learned to appreciate Christian ways, though they spoke only a little about our Lord in his presence at first. As he spent more time in their company, it became apparent that he was losing some of his boisterous and unruly ways. He became calmer, more attentive, and more pleasant to talk to.
Sadly, there grew a
"stumbling block", one which stumbled him from his association with his
Christian friends. You see, his parents permitted him to grow his hair according
to a new fashion that was manifestly a disgrace. (1 Cor 11:13 A discreet explanatory letter along with scriptural quotations was sent to his father, giving the reasons why a Christian father could not allow the association between his family and the boy to continue while he wore his hair at such an unGodly length for a male. Immediately on receipt of the letter, and in a rage, the boy's father paid a visit to the Christian father and demanded: 'As he has been wearing his hair long for some time now, why have you suddenly decided on this course of action?' Whether or not the Christian father's intervention was considered timely enough, was not the issue. What was of concern was that the boy's father was prepared to stumble his own son over this matter. In challenging the timing of the Christian father's intervention, the boy's father was merely seeking to justify his own actions and excuse himself of his own guilt before God! It is the prerogative of a father to correct his son, and in failing to do so neither he nor his son had angelic protection or an approach to God.
And now, two years after his son
was deprived of his early faith through the Godless behaviour of his father, we
watch this "stumbling block" of a father "Now as regards you, O son of man, a watchman is what I have made you to the house of Israel, and at My mouth you must hear the word and give them warning from Me. When I say to someone wicked, 'O wicked one, you will positively die!' but you actually do not speak out to warn the wicked one from his way, he himself as a wicked one will die in his own error, but his blood I shall ask back at your own hand. But as regards you, in case you actually warn someone wicked from his way for him to turn back from it but he actually does not turn back from his way, he himself will die in his own error, whereas you yourself will certainly deliver your own soul." (Ezek 33:7-9).
"And when I say to the wicked one: "You will
positively die," and he actually turns back from his sin and carries on justice
and righteousness, and the wicked one returns the very thing pledged, pays back
the very things taken by robbery, and actually
walks in the very statutes of life by not doing injustice,
he will positively keep living.
He will not die. None of his sins with which he has sinned will be remembered
against him. Justice and righteousness are what he has carried on. He will
positively keep living."
(Ezek 33:14 (Cont. on Page 30/4/87).
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