The multitudes of good parents that have lost their children to the world are a church wide tragedy. I constantly meet precious souls that were raised in good Christian homes that are now lost and often careless in their lifestyles. My wife has a wonderful doctor, so kind and highly respected, that was raised in another country by a Godly, Spirit-filled saint of God. We have had street ministry for years and I have never met a prostitute that was not raised in a Christian home. IÂ’m ministering to a beautiful, young woman right now that knows the truth of GodÂ’s Word. Her Christian mother is now with the Lord and this dear soul is living with her boyfriend. IÂ’m reaching to a couple from Honduras. This woman was raised by a holiness, Spirit-filled mother but is now living with a man out of wedlock. What is wrong? We are missing something.

God’s Holy Word has promised emphatically to save the family of any parent or parents that surrenders in abandonment to Jesus Christ. There is no excuse for Godly dads and moms to lose their children to the devil. Two promises have been my bedrock from the time my children were toddlers. Paul and Silas said to the Philippian jailer, “… Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” “And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.” (Acts 16:31, 34) “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverb 22:6) These truths leave no room for failure.

Abraham’s great test from the Lord may be our answer. His son, Isaac, was a young man and was the son of promise that Abraham and Sarah had waited on God to fulfill. God spoke to Abraham, “…Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” (Genesis 22:2) He left immediately with his son to travel the three-day journey to Mount Moriah. There at the foot of the mountain he left the servant while he and Isaac went to worship before the Lord. When Isaac was tied and laid on the altar and Abraham stood with the knife in hand, God spoke again. “And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.” (Genesis 22:11-12) A ram was caught in the thicket because God had prepared the sacrifice once the heart of Abraham and his son were fully set. Abraham in his heart had sacrificed his son to God and, as God had promised, received his son back again.

What a principle of child training and rearing! Parents of church families are rearing their children for the world, training them how to be successful in the worldÂ’s system, and then frustrating themselves wondering why they have no surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. GodÂ’s method is to offer them as sacrifices to the Lord, rearing them with abandonment to Jesus Christ with an utter distaste for this worldÂ’s evil system. When our children have been placed on GodÂ’s altar from birth and are raised to maintain a proper distance from everything unclean, they cannot forget it. They must be taught to love everyone but to hate every form of sin. There is no room for prejudice by color or offense by the failures of others.

If children have been saturated with the absolute promises of God and the fact that “right always prevails in the end,” they will learn to wait on God. Our children must be taught that they are God’s property, that they have been sacrificed to Him alone, and that success is doing God’s will, whether it is big or small. Many parents have unfulfilled dreams that they try to impose upon the lives of their children. What a tragedy when God has a plan bigger and better than anything we could ever imagine. Obedience and surrender to God is happiness that cannot be destroyed. If we determine to impose our ideas of financial success – doctors, lawyers, and great incomes – but they miss knowing God, we, along with our children, will pay with unending sorrows and grief. The world’s system always fails in the end.

God Himself is our best example that we serve ourselves, along with His glory, by sacrificing our sons and daughters to Him. He sacrificed His Son at Calvary and then received Him back at the resurrection. When His Son arrived in the Holy City of God, the Father gave Him a name, which is above every name. That Son is even now at the FatherÂ’s right hand to intercede for us, and He is soon coming again in glory to rapture His faithful saints. God has a plan for your sons and daughters. His plan is nothing but a blueprint until you, along with your children, place them on GodÂ’s altar and teach them separation from all evil. Pay no attention to the spiritually blind who tell you that the glasshouses of child rearing do not work. Look at their kids that are taking drugs, listening to mind destroying rock music, and fornicating like dogs under the porch. Then, take your family to GodÂ’s altar and live there. It works!

There is no truth more breathtaking than God’s gift of His Son. It could not have been said better than when it was spoken by John, the Apostle that leaned on Jesus’ breast. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Neither the Romans nor the Jews crucified Jesus. The Father sent His Son, His own Eternal Son, out of His own bosom for the designed purpose of being the sacrifice of death to save from sin. Just as the Father slew the first sacrifice in the Garden of Eden to provide a temporary covering from sin, the Father provided the finished work on Calvary.

No one ever described the death of the Son of God better than Isaiah, Israel’s statesman prophet. Isaiah first spoke of the viciousness of Jesus’ suffering in His fleshly body that He bore as the instrument of sacrifice. "As many were astonished at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men." (Isaiah 52:14) He did not bare this body, His instrument of sacrifice, that we might glory in the beauty or the pain. It was God’s love and Christ’s love in that we were to rejoice, the willingness to take our place in the judgment of sin. This is the glory of the cross. The writer strengthened this truth in the following words, "For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:2-3) We are not to glory in His flesh or our flesh, but in the triumph of that cross where God bridged the gap of separation between Himself and His redeemed saints.

Isaiah spoke of that bridge of redemption as He continued to prophesy of Christ, hundreds of years in advance. "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." (Isaiah 53:4) He was our substitute; He took our place. Everything we deserved was laid upon Him. For all the pain that sin had earned, He was God’s answer and God’s offering in our stead. It is so easy to glory in the gore of His death without one moment of deep repentance for our own sins that he was dying to amend and atone.

This prophecy is careful not to bypass the real truth of His death. The Spirit said, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6) The Father laid on the very heart and soul of His Son every transgression of human history. The Word said, ".laid on him the iniquity of us all." No sinner need despair because the debt is paid for all that turn wholly to Him. How could one man bare the sin of the world? Only because He was God in the flesh. "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matthew 1:23) The sacrifice was the Son of God because no one else could possibly be the sufficient sacrifice. It had to be God or all was lost.

The pleasure of the Father in this great moment of redemption must be understood by the largeness of His Divine capacity. We understand on a human level, but our Father knows love in the glory of His holiness. Isaiah dared to describe this glory of His love. "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." (Isaiah 53:10-11) This is an even greater expression of love that John spoke about in his gospel. "For God so loved the world" is beautiful; but, to say, "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him," overwhelms our soul. This is too high for me; it is love that stretches the breadth and length of this universe and must lift our hearts to reverence our God and to love Him with an everlasting love.

When the Son of God was dying and the throes of suffering had reached the highest levels, the Father turned from this universe and darkness enveloped the whole of it. Men have often contemplated those three hours of utter darkness. "Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour." (Matthew 27:45) The answer for this darkness is so beautiful. The Father was willing, even pleased to sacrifice His Son, but He turned His head from the sorrows of this supernatural accomplishment. He could not watch, nor did He allow the crowd gathered around the scene to watch the darkest moments. "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46) It was done; the Father was pleased, although His heart was grieved for His Son.

The Son of God had walked where no one else could walk and He declared, "It is finished." The Father has exalted His Son and given Him a name, which is above every name. Eternity will reveal the glory of the Father’s love for His Son and His saints will rejoice in that glory.

The most satisfying and wonderful life in the world is walking in the holiness of Jesus Christ. The Father created us to be pure, and anything less is a reduction of our life. Our lips were formed beautifully to speak a pure language without guile or bitterness. The moment our lips begin to form dark and destructive thoughts it sends a chill down into the reservoir of our soul. When we begin to follow the worldÂ’s system and to pursue the worldÂ’s favor, it is like a nosedive off the pure plains of spiritual living and Heavenly satisfaction. The enemy paints a lovely picture, but the canvas of colors soon begins to blur and turns into shadows. Purity and holiness alone are the one source of pure happiness.

God’s Holy Word is infallible and supernatural. It prescribes a pure life and furnishes the grace to be transformed out of a life that destroys. Apostle Paul wrote to Titus and described the challenge of holiness. He spoke of disciplined living with responsible conduct and showed clearly the change that follows a conversion to Christ. “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” (Titus 3:1-3) This is what the Bible means by “walking in holiness.” It is a life that lifts the individual onto a level of clean and responsible living.

Each saint of God must never forget where he came from and who he once was. There are no perfect souls that have never sinned. Sin is most often insanity where the evil habits and passions carry the souls right down to the gutter of filth. One of the great statements describing conversion to Christ says, “from the guttermost to the uttermost.” Jesus Christ came to rescue the darkest sin-bound-soul in our midst. To the woman caught in the act of adultery and brought to Jesus Christ, He said after His grace had arrested her soul, “Go and sin no more.” She was a new creature.

The Gospel writer continues after the instruction above and speaks of the wonderful transformation of righteousness. “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.” (Titus 3:4-6) What marvelous words when he speaks of “the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Religion that only touches the intellect is woefully inadequate. Religious works are impossible to create change in the inner man, only grace can reach inside the human heart. We must have a heart transplant. Thank God our Savior accepts trade-ins. Give Him your old heart and let Him give you His new one.

The beautiful life will flow right out of that new heart that the Savior implants by grace. Keeping GodÂ’s great laws of righteousness is a joy to the soul with the new transplant. He creates us in righteousness so that righteousness becomes an exceeding joy. This new man replaces the old life of evil and cheap living. It pains the soul of a true saint to hear or see the godless conduct of wicked souls.

The great life of holiness is beautifully portrayed in Romans. Paul said, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” (Romans 6:6-12) Walking in holiness is beyond joy; it is exceeding joy. Being free from the bondage of moral depravity and unbridled conduct is like being turned out of a dark prison full of depraved inmates.

By grace and through faith in Christ and His Blood offering, you can be a new creature. As a new creature, you can help others discover the life in Christ offered free to one and all.

The ultimate testimony of our Lord in this world is when His glory rests upon a fully surrendered saint. There is no greater miracle than the beauty of His presence in our faces. Our glory is not in our talents, our gifts, or our words; but in our praise to Him, hidden and revealed in our countenance. The Bible clearly promises that He beautifies the meek with salvation. “For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.” (Psalm 149:4)

His glory is an adorning that speaks a language of unmistakable beauty. If there is a miracle this world needs to see, it is His revelation in our daily lives. It will unsettle the darkest bondage in sinnersÂ’ lives when they are thrust into the presence of a godly saint that exudes the very glory of God.

Apostle Paul, the giant of New Testament Christianity, spoke of this glory. Read this Scripture carefully. “That no flesh should glory in his (flesh) presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (I Corinthians 1:29-31) Our flesh in its sinful form is repulsive. The best you can do with it can only put a false glitter on a wretched skin tent. But, God, by Christ, can recreate the adamic nature into a temple of spiritual manifestation and His glow can replace the wretched form. That’s Biblical sainthood which God delights to possess.

Jesus Christ came to remove the veil that hid the saints from external spiritual glory. The First Testament or covenant was bondage to the believer because the law was foreign to his nature. The human nature needed transformation and the only Begotten Son died for this supernatural feat. The Word of God proclaims, “Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (II Corinthians 3:16-18) The veil that separated the believer from spiritual glory is gone, removed by Jesus Christ, the triumphant Redeemer.

Now, He invites us into the inner sanctuary of the Holy of Holies. Our life is no longer in the outer court, where only shadows of life can be experienced. We now have a door of entrance right into the Mercy Seat. Jesus is the Door, the Holy Spirit is the Gatekeeper, and you are a welcome guest. The Holy Spirit says, “Come on in”; but only when Christ is “all in all” in your life. There is no double mindedness in this inner sanctuary of His glory.

If you are ready to become His reflection in your total lifestyle, He is absolutely ready to take you from “glory to glory.” The Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of the Lord,” and He has been give total liberty by the Father to walk you right into the presence of the Master. The depth of His beauty leaves the glitter of this world in the ash heaps of nothingness. He is the “Rose of Sharon” and the “Lily of the Valley.” He is “Altogether Lovely,” the “Daystar,” “Wonderful Counselor,” the “Mighty God,” the “Everlasting Father,” the “Prince of Peace.” He wants to be embraced by His saints that forsake all to follow Him.

Has our church world forgotten that we can pass from “glory to glory” as we behold Him in our surrender? The apostle reminds us that it is the “open face” that beholds Him. An “open face” is the life without pretense, no façade, no show of flesh, and absolute in longing for Him. He has become our “Pearl of Great Price” and our “Bread of Life.” He speaks out from the pages of the Holy Word. “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) He waits in the shadows of spiritual truth for the soul that longs only for Him. The Psalmist said, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.” (Psalm 42:1)

Your family is desperate to see this glory upon your life. Your fellow workers may not understand the Bible, but they will understand the reflection of His glory in your face. All the beauty that others will see will bring honor to your Lord, but you will also find joy in His reflection that surpasses anything this world can offer you. He is the “… peace of God, which passeth all understanding …” (Philippians 4:7) He is “altogether lovely” and He waits to put His glow upon your face.