Teaching the Next Generation How to Respond to Evil
Anyone who has lived long enough to be a parent knows that the world is not getting better. Promises of a “brighter tomorrow” or a “better future” are empty. Evil feeds itself and continues to expand. It can be scary and seem hopeless to raise kids in this environment. However, the evil that seems to be closing in on us presents a golden opportunity to speak hope to our children. Rather than filling children’s heads with fanciful notions of “your best life now,” we can redeem the moments by teaching them the truth about themselves and their temporary home.
The truth about ourselves is that evil not only lurks around us; it is in us. We are born enemies of God with a natural inclination toward evil. When compared to the holy standard of God, we all fall short (Rom. 3:23). The first peace that a child must have, is peace with God made possible through Jesus (Rom. 5:1).
When a child is at peace with God, he can be taught how to think about the evil in the world. The Bible does not promise us that evil will not touch us, but it does teach us that God is sovereign over evil and uses it to accomplish His will. We can confidently submit ourselves to the care of a loving, powerful God. The evilest act ever committed in history was the crucifixion of the perfect Son of God, but God accomplished His perfect plan of redemption as a result. (For more on this topic, see https://www.gotquestions.org/does-God-use-evil.html.)
God’s Word promises us a day when He will defeat evil. It is hard for us to imagine what that will be like. Our finite minds think of the future in terms of what will not be present-no suffering, no sorrow, no death. It is hard for us to grasp what will be in Heaven because sin mars everything good we know on earth. When children are exposed to evil or its effects, we must remind them of God’s plan to end evil. We can show them that evil magnifies the goodness of God. Those who embrace Jesus as Savior will not have to live under the shadow of the curse forever. Instead, Zechariah 3:15 contains the amazing promise that when the Lord, the King of Israel is with us, we will “never again fear evil.” The truth about evil in our world is that we do not have to fear it even now.
When we hear of bomb threats, mass shootings, and other such despicable and terrifying events, it is tempting to seek a safe retreat where evil cannot touch us or those we love. Protecting our children from everything that could harm them is a futile pursuit and leads them away from trusting God. We should, of course, be careful, make plans, and act responsibly, but this longing for peace and security is a gift. It is a restlessness that helps us take refuge in our God and long for our real home in eternity. The next time evil strikes, welcome the moment to glory in a God of whom we can say “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust (Psalm 91:2).
Mrs. Regier
