As I was driving home from work

As I was driving home from work today, my oldest daughter days to me, “Mommy, why did God bring drugs to the world? And why does it hurt so many people?” So I explained to my baby how the enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy; and one of the ways he does that is through drugs. I told her God didn’t put drugs on earth, man did! I began to tell her how God gave man free will over his thoughts and desires; and although God knows what our thoughts are to be and what he wants them to be, we still have the freedom to think or act upon those thoughts. “Even when we choose to go against the will he may have for us,” I said, “we have the chance to ask for His forgiveness, and to walk in His way. That’s called repentance.”
If we are truly repented, I explained, God is gracious to forgive and deliver us from the hurt and harm of sin over our lives. “That’s the power of God’s love for you and for me!” She said, “So Mommy, if people ask for God’s forgiveness and they let God deliver them, then drugs won’t destroy them anymore?” I told her “Yes, baby. Only if they are sincere.”
Just like that my baby came into the age of accountability. No, I didn’t think I would have to explain that to my children so soon. But just as I noticed last week at our school, kids as young as 5 years old have been exposed to drugs and the ways of this world. We must wake up and see that just as the Word says, children of the coming generations shall be wiser but weaker. My eight year old recognizes and understands the harmful effects of drugs in someone’s life, and now know how to pray God’s will over her live so that she’s not consumed by it.
That’s all it takes-a single decision. Are we going to continue rolling blunts with our kids, or teaching them to pray? Are we going to let them take their first drink with us or take them to their first prayer meeting? We can choose to take them to revival now, or have them revived after an overdose later.
Now it may sound a little extra, but it is so very true. No you may never have the perfect child, but again if you “train them up in the way they should go, when they are old they won’t depart from it.” I’m not telling you something I heard, I’m sharing with you what I have lived. So right now in this moment, make the decision to teach your children the ways of God-so that in that moment of accountability they can stand before the throne of grace, not with judgement, but with the banner of righteous and the power of forgiveness. Be blessed!

-S.S. Stalls