"Honor Your Father and Mother"

  God has been rejected as the supreme moral authority over man. Man is quickly rejecting God and inserting our own ideas of morality. Parents are not teaching their children. Teachers are being strapped so they cannot establish right and wrong values. The government steps in and tries to ensure that every person gets full "human rights" by inserting legislation. This is not a political article, but the point is once the authority of God is rejected it opens up avenues that goes horribly wrong and kills the souls.

  Many lives are in shambles. Homes are in disarray. People can't figure out why such a vast majority of the younger wander seemingly lost. Homes continue to fall apart at an alarming rate, even among those who profess Christ as their Lord. What is happening?

  God took His people from Egyptian bondage. They did nothing on their own, but listen and obeyed His voice. God did all the work to release them. That nation of slaves walked out of the shackles of an Egyptian empire who abused them and took all they had only to give them more than they ever thought possible. They walked out of bondage with arm loads of necessary items for them to live life. They were brought to the mountain where God instructed them how to make it in life whole and pure. One of those instructions or commandments was stated clearly:  "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you." (Exodus 20:12) There it was placed before their eyes. God released them from bondage and gave them a land they didn't earn. "Honor your father and your mother" said Jehovah. 

  We fast forward today. Under the authority of Christ Jesus rings these words: "Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may lives long on the earth."  (Ephesians 6:2-3) From this we can see why so many problems are arising in our day and time. A complete rejection of God and His moral instruction. When we start building our houses on sand, it cannot stand. When a nation is built on dirt it's going to collapse. No matter how educated we think we are, how rich and acclaimed we've become, to ignore the calling of God brings disasters to any people. There is a promise attached to this authority: "So that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth." It's not well with many. The pattern for the young is to despise their aging parents.

  God shouted to the ears of Israel over and over about despising or dishonoring their parents. You can see this in Exodus 21:15,17 and Deuteronomy 27:16 as a couple of examples. There were dire consequences to dishonoring parents.

  What does it mean to honor? It means to esteem or value your parents. We need to view them as people of substance and weight. Leviticus 19:3 calls the child to "reverence" their father and mother. That term is used of God Himself many times. But what if my parents aren't honorable? Maybe they are a drunkard or thief. Keep in mind your sins that were forgiven by the Lord Jesus. Take His word upon your heart to keep them honored as the Lord calls you to honor them. It's not about their "honorability", but a loving relationship with the Lord. 

  Honor your mother and father because you have learned more than you have discovered. Honor your mother and father because they have clothed you and brought you into this world. Honor your father and mother because they introduced you to the Bible, the Church, and humanity. Honor your mother and father because only they lived with your mood swings, your changes, your selfishness ,and outbursts. Honor your mother and father because God calls us to do that. It won't be long and they won't be around for you to honor.