“And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” – Malachi 4:6
As a parent, you’ve likely sacrificed countless hours, sleepless nights, and hard-earned money to give your children the best possible life. You’ve invested in their education, healthcare, extracurricular activities, and future opportunities. But have you considered the most important investment of all—their eternal future?
If you truly love your children, you want what’s best for them not just in this life, but in the life to come. This article challenges every parent to consider a profound question: if there’s even a remote possibility that God is real and heaven and hell exist, both of which are true, don’t you owe it to your children to investigate?
The most tragic scenario imaginable would be for your child to trust Christ and enter heaven, while you—the one who loved them most on earth—reject the very Savior who could bring you together forever. This would mean missing the opportunity for eternal fellowship as a family.
Why Parents Have a Biblical Responsibility to Guide Their Children to Salvation
The Bible doesn’t suggest that parents might consider teaching their children about God—it commands it! This divine mandate appears throughout Scripture, establishing parental spiritual guidance as a fundamental responsibility.
Deuteronomy 6:6-8 provides the foundational principle: “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.”
This passage reveals three crucial elements of parental spiritual responsibility:
- God’s Word must be in your heart first: You cannot give what you don’t possess. Before you can effectively guide your children toward salvation, you must have a genuine relationship with God yourself.
- Teaching should be diligent and constant: The Hebrew word “diligent” implies persistent, careful instruction. This isn’t a Sunday-only responsibility—it’s an all-day, every-day commitment to spiritual guidance.
- Every moment presents an opportunity to point children toward God: Whether at home, traveling, going to bed, or waking up, parents should look for natural ways to incorporate spiritual truth into daily life.
The Promise of Proper Spiritual Training
Proverbs 22:6 offers both encouragement and warning: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
The word “train” implies intentional, systematic instruction—not casual or haphazard teaching. “The way” specifically refers to God’s way, not worldly wisdom or secular philosophy. This training carries eternal consequences that extend far beyond childhood into eternity itself.
Balanced Parenting: Nurture Without Provoking
Ephesians 6:4 provides crucial guidance on how to approach spiritual instruction: “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
This verse warns against harsh or hypocritical approaches that might drive children away from faith. Instead, parents should focus on:
- Nurture: Providing spiritual nourishment that helps faith grow naturally.
- Admonition: Offering gentle correction that guides children toward God’s truth rather than condemning them.
The Sobering Reality: Eternal Separation Between Saved and Unsaved
Many parents assume that death simply ends everything, or that somehow families will be reunited regardless of their spiritual condition. However, Scripture presents a different reality that every parent should carefully consider.
Luke 16:26 describes the eternal state with startling clarity: “And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”
This passage reveals several uncomfortable truths:
- The separation between heaven and hell is permanent and “fixed.”
- There is no crossing over from one destination to another.
- There are no visits, no communication, no comfort between the saved and unsaved.
The Ultimate Determining Factor
Revelation 20:15 eliminates any ambiguity about what determines eternal destiny: “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
This verse makes clear that eternal salvation depends solely on having your name “written in the book of life.” It’s not about being a good parent, a moral person, or contributing to society. The only factor that matters is whether you’ve accepted God’s provision for salvation.
The Permanence of Eternal Consequences
Matthew 25:46 emphasizes the eternal nature of these consequences: “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”
The word “everlasting” appears in both descriptions—punishment and life are equally eternal. There are only two possible destinations, and the choice made in this life determines where you’ll spend eternity.
For parents, this creates a sobering realization: if your child accepts Christ and you don’t, you will spend eternity knowing you made the wrong decision and they didn’t.
The Simple Path to Salvation: Available to Every Parent Today
The good news is that salvation is neither complicated nor impossible to obtain. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 summarizes the gospel message: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
This passage outlines four essential facts:
- Christ died for our sins – The final, complete payment for all sin of mankind has been made.
- He was buried – The burial shows proof that Jesus actually died a physical death.
- He rose again – This shows God the Father was satisfied with the payment His Son made and it confirms His victory over death.
- According to the scriptures – God’s plan concerning his Son was all done in accordance to His word as outlined in the Holy Bible.
Salvation by Grace, Not Works
Many parents worry that they haven’t been “good enough” to deserve salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 addresses this concern directly: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
This passage clarifies several important points:
- Salvation comes by grace (unmerited favor), not by self effort.
- It’s received through faith (simple belief), not through complicated rituals.
- It’s not of yourselves – you cannot earn or deserve it.
- It’s not of works – being a good parent, while important, won’t save you or keep you saved.
How to Be Saved: The Simple Steps
Acts 16:30-31 “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
Salvation requires two things:
- Belief in the Gospel (1 Cor 15:1-4)
- Trust in Jesus Christ as your personal saviour by faith alone, apart from any works.
The moment you personally believe that what Jesus did was for you and put your full trust in Jesus Christ, you are saved that very moment once and forever. You have a permanent salvation!
Hebrews 9:12 “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
Your Decision Affects Your Children’s Eternal Joy
Consider this: if your child trusts Christ as their Savior, they will spend eternity in perfect happiness and joy. However, your decision regarding salvation affects not only your own eternal destiny but also impacts your family’s eternal fellowship together.
As a parent, you’ve probably done everything possible to avoid causing your children pain. You’ve kissed scraped knees, stayed up with sick children, and sacrificed your own comfort for their wellbeing. Given your love for your children and desire for their ultimate good, wouldn’t you want to ensure that you can spend eternity together with them in God’s presence?
The choice you make about accepting Christ as your Savior determines whether your family will be reunited in heaven or separated for eternity. While those in heaven will experience perfect joy without sorrow.
Revelation 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
The opportunity for eternal fellowship as a family depends on each person’s individual decision to trust in the finished work of Christ.
The Gift That Keeps Giving: Eternal Life for Your Family
Salvation isn’t just about avoiding hell—it’s about gaining heaven and the incredible joy of spending eternity with Jesus and with your children who also know Christ. Imagine the perfect family reunion that never ends, free from pain, sorrow, sickness, and death.
This gift is available to you right now, free of charge, with no strings attached. You don’t have to clean up your life first, attend church for years, or prove your worthiness. You simply need to acknowledge your need for a Savior and trust in what Christ has already done for you.
Conclusion: The Ultimate Act of Parental Love
True parental love considers not just temporal needs but eternal consequences. If you genuinely love your children, you’ll want to ensure that death doesn’t separate your family forever.
The decision is yours to make, but the consequences affect not just you—they affect your children’s eternal experience as well. Choose today to accept the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, and give your children the greatest gift possible: the hope of spending eternity together in heaven.
Make the decision today that will ensure your family can be reunited for all eternity, rather than facing the reality of eternal separation from those you love most.