We are in similar and perilous times as highlighted in today’s theme scripture. These things were written down for our instruction. Many young people do not believe the Bible is relevant to life's issues. Schools are teaching them about evolution and that they can choose and change their sex, suggesting that they are not good the way God made them. And what are the people of God teaching? Are we teaching and talking about truth we learned and the testimonies of what God has done for us? Or are we leaving that up to the Sunday School teachers? Are we demonstrating how to live godly, or have we fallen on the wayside? Our families need us to talk to them about Scripture and have family devotions and prayer (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). Just hearing it once a week will not instill it into their hearts. 

We need to speak to the young people in our sphere of influence about God’s design for the natural family as well as the spiritual family. Society is being sold a lie that one can call anything family and have the same support, the same safety, and the same blessing from God. We have allowed the current culture to influence the young people in our faith communities. And now they are more confused than ever. Rather than experiencing the freedom promised by the lie, young people are more depressed, fearful, and wondering whether they are valuable at all. 

Repentance and intentionality is called for. When Nehemiah heard that the walls of Jerusalem had been broken down and its gates destroyed, he wept and mourned, fasted and prayed for forgiveness. We need to be on our knees like Nehemiah and ask forgiveness that the walls of morality and self-control have been broken down and the gates destroyed. Like Nehemiah, let us pray to be part of the solution. Let us speak up. Separate truth from lies.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank You for the opportunities that I have to impact future generations. I confess I have not always been a faithful witness declaring the things You have done for me and my generation. I confess that I have often remained silent when I should have spoken or spoken about natural rather than spiritual things. Oh Lord! Show me how to redeem the time I have remaining to make a bigger impact for Jesus in the future generations. Show me where to go, how to speak, what to speak. Let Your praise be on my lips and Your Word in my heart. Let Your living water flow in me and through me and well up to eternal life for both myself and my hearers. In the Name of Jesus, I Pray. Amen.

It is wise to make preparations in case of emergency – food, water, power, a plan for shelter. Many Americans today rely on electronic access to the Bible – we are blessed that it has been so easy. However, we were reminded that the Bible, the Word of God, is under attack and falsely characterized as harmful, with a goal of making it inaccessible. To help each other and the next generation to know the Lord and what He has done for us, make sure you have a physical Bible that is readable for you, and that others you care about do, too.