Part of the role of being a parent is to help their children feel secure and appreciated. Perhaps it is a small scrape or a red place on the arm or leg. The parent gets a band-aid or in some cases a big kiss to let the child know, everything is all right. As the years unfold it can become more serious as the child fights with self worth because life has dealt them a hard blow. At such times loving parents open their arms and give the child the kind of hug that says I will not turn you loose (until you are better). From conception forward a love grows for the child and the awesome responsibility to give them the ability to love.
Still in their early years going to bed at night can create a problem. The problem is the dark. Because of our technology parents can provide the children will little lights plugged in to the wall that gives some security. This is accompanied by parents assuring them, they are safe and mom and dad are just in the other room. On some occasions it is a noise which wakens the child and they may cry out or come into the parents room. This is followed (for the most part by dad) going into the child’s room turning on all the lights, checking out the closet and looking under the bed. The child in short order drifts off into quiet slumber and dad goes back to his own bed. He thanks God for giving him the child and quietly asks God to give him wisdom to keep the child safe and feeling loved.
Let us return to the first century world. The church (kingdom) had its beginning in Acts 2 as per the prophecies and the working of God (Joel 2:28-32; Dan. 7:14; Isa. 2:3,4). When it began it was in favor with both God and man (Acts 2:47). In a short period of time opposition began to grow because of what the church was teaching the world around them about Jesus the Christ being raised from the dead (Acts 4 and 5). What followed was internal strife in the church and the killing of Stephen (Acts 6 and Acts 7). There began to be an attack on the church by the Jewish leaders led by Saul, who later became the apostle Paul.
He began to make havoc of the church, putting people into prison (Acts 8:3). Christians fled from Jerusalem out of concern for their lives. It was not an act of cowardice because wherever they went, they went teaching the same thing which got them into trouble (Acts 8:4). The congregation at Smyrna was told that prison and even death awaited these good brethren (Rev. 2:10). Paul years after his own conversion to Christ, told Agrippa that when Christians were put to death that he gave his voice to it, that is he agreed with their death. It was not only a time of the church being under attack, but it was also a time of turbulence in the world as well.
Jesus told Peter, James, John and Andrew that they would hear of wars and rumors of wars but not to be troubled (Matt. 24:6). With all the unrest and Christians being placed in prison or put to death, what would happen to their children? The church would step in to be sure those little children would not be left to the mercy of the world (James 1:27). What a beautiful idea that the church is the household of God. Parents in prison or having been killed, those who wore the name of Christian would step in and give those children safety and assurance.
We are taught by Jesus to not place the “actions of our thoughts” into tomorrow (Matt. 6:34). When our little children are growing up in this turbulent times in which we live, let us as individuals and as the church help little children to not be “afraid of the dark”. Let not our words about the coming election scare them but instead let us assure them; God will never leave them nor forsake them (Heb. 13:5).