If you’re a parent, you likely have said or thought—how much easier it would be if you knew the future. Parenting would be a snap if you had a crystal ball or an accurate magic 8-ball. The thing is you do. You have a road map of this age. You have the end of the maze. No, we don’t have all the details we would like to possess, but by knowing the absolute end of things from Biblical prophecy we can know the trajectory in which things are headed. Typically, the knowledge of end time prophecy is only applied to geo-political projections, but what if we applied it to parenting? What if we parented by the end of the maze? What if we parenting with end time prophecy? What if we used our trustworthy and accurate Magic 8-ball?
Parenting would be a snap if you had a crystal ball or an accurate magic 8-ball. The thing is you do. You have a road map of this age. You have the end of the maze. Share on XOn one hand this sounds crazy, I know. On the other it sounds genius. Just like a maze is much easier to complete if you begin at the end and work your way back to the beginning so could our parenting. All of life for that matter.
What if we reverse engineered parenting?
As believers we have the tools to just that.
For starters by knowing how this age ends and what ultimately matters eternally we can accurately form goals for our children. Yes, we want them to be successful. We want to do well in school. We want them to get great jobs. We want them to find the perfect spouse (like I did, I’m going for bonus points). Yet, we know from the Word that ultimately what matters most is that our children come to follow Jesus and follow Him for all the days of their lives. The end of the maze for our children is an image of the gathering of the redeemed around throne of God in His Kingdom—will our children be there? Secondly, it’s the image of the judgment seat of Christ—will our children hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
We know the end of the maze of life.
We’re far, far ahead of nonbeliever parents.
We have far more than an accurate Magic 8-Ball.
What if we reverse engineered our parenting from the Judgment Seat of Christ back?
Not only do we know the ultimate goal for our children, but we know the very challenges they will face.
The most heart-breaking prophecy to me is Matthew 24:10 which warns that many will turn away. This talks about a particular time in the future, but it’s already happening.
Lifeway Research shares that two-thirds of children raised in church are gone by age twenty-two and few are coming back. This should break our hearts.
This also shouldn’t surprise us because it’s written in white and black in our Bibles—actually this warning is written in red. We’re warned. What if we parented with this warning in mind?
No, we can’t prevent many turning away, but we can help that not happen to our children.
I want to encourage you to lean into Scripture and reverse-engineer your parenting. Not just your parenting, but also your church’s ministry to the emerging generation.
This is the point of our parenting blog and our new podcast called Stand Firm Parents. The podcast is available everywhere podcasts can be found. If you’re Apple user you can subscribe here or if an Android user you can subscribe here.
Stand Firm Parents is helping families have a faith that lasts. I am reverse-engineering parenting based on the authority of the Word, based on Bible prophecy.
Parents let’s pick up our trustworthy and accurate Magic 8-Ball and parent accordingly. And by accurate Magic 8-ball, of course, I mean your Bible.
Parents let’s pick up our trustworthy and accurate Magic 8-Ball and parent accordingly. And by accurate Magic 8-ball, of course, I mean your Bible. Share on X
Executive Director of Stand Firm and lead pastor of Epic Church NWA in Springdale, AR and multiple award-winning author, Jake has a B.A. in Bible and Pastoral Studies from Central Baptist College, and an Advanced Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Former regular contributor to the Baptist Press and WND News with popular conservative voices such as Pat Buchanan, Ann Coulter, Ben Carson, Chuck Norris, Greg Laurie, Ben Schapiro, Joel Richardson, and others. He now is a weekly contributor for Israel, Islam, and the End Times and Armageddon News. He has authored books such as the, award-winning Spiritual Prepper from WND Books. Award-winning devotional books, Invincibleand For Uncertain Times, he authored the ground-breaking children’s book, Jesus and His White Horse from CrossLink Publishing. He is also a regular guest on national and international radio and streaming web shows, along with hosting his weekly live streaming program Talking Stand Firm and weekly podcast Stand Firm Parents.
