Nature or Nurture or Neither?

This past Lord's Day I was blessed and encouraged by both the Scripture reading and the sermon. They sermon provided the perfect counterpoint to the OT reading we had in II Chronicles 28. Here we have the sad saga of King Ahaz who burned incense in the Valley of the son of Hinnom, burned his children in the fire, sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on hills and under green trees, and worshiped the gods of the Syrians because they seemed to be the ones who would help a guy to win a few wars. This is hardly the sort of wholesome atmosphere one would want to subject a covenant child to, and yet his son, King Hezekiah, grew up in this man's home. Moreover, he was faithfull to the Lord God and "did what was right in the sight of the Lord."

The sermon was preached from the text, Mark 14:10-15. What really stuck with me was the beginning part of the sermon which dealt with Judas Iscariot. Here you have a man who spent three years with the Lord of Glory. It doesn't get any better than that. This man was chosen to be an apostle, was commissioned to preach, and even did miracles in Jesus' name and cast out demons (Matt. 10:1). Yet in the end he betrayed the Master to death with a kiss for 30 pieces of silver.

Is it nature or nurture that determines if a child or adult will serve and follow Christ?

Neither.

It is grace alone.

May the Lord make the means effectual to salvation for our children.