A Cessna 206 was carrying seven people between district airports in Columbia, South America. It crashed in the early morning hours of May 1st. The pilot, co-pilot, and a mother with her four children crashed in a thick jungle in the southern part of this country. Tragically, the adults died in the impact. However, the four children survived this crash. Their next challenge, though, was surviving in the wilds of the jungle with only their skills. The siblings were 13, 9, 4, and an 11-months old!
On June 10, these kids were found alive! How did they do it? Their grandmother, who raised them, taught them how to fish, hunt, and find safe food in the wild. They knew which fruits and seeds were safe to eat in the rainforests and which were poisonous. Thanks to two rescue dogs, Tellius and Wilson, leading 150 soldiers, the children were found, dehydrated and full of mosquito bites, but very much alive!
How often do we speak figurative, saying, “It’s a jungle out there!” The idea in that expression is that of a threatening environment that is difficult to survive. This is not just true of adults, but it is especially challenging for society’s youngest members. Think of the obstacles and challenges faced by our youth right now, the messages and indoctrination so contrary to Scripture, the diversions and distractions pulling them away from faith. How can they survive this metaphorical jungle?
It’s the same way as those fortunate little ones in Columbia. First, survival skills must be taught in the home. This implies much time, effort, patience, and hands-on training. Second, those skills must be practiced. Third, survival must continue until rescue and relief comes.
Do we have homes that equip our children to make it through the difficult spiritual terrain? This equipping centers around filling their hearts with God’s thoughts (Deut. 6:4-6). It centers around practical outlets to put that information into motion (Phil. 4:9). By the time they are out on their own, they should have the training they need to make it on their own (Prov. 22:6). We should teach them to “hold on” until rescue and relief comes (2 Thess. 1:6-7).
It’s hard to imagine something worse than a plane crash befalling our children or grandchildren, but there is! There’s a shipwreck of faith (1 Tim. 1:19), upset of faith (2 Tim. 2:18), going astray of faith (1 Tim. 6:21). That’s all synonymous for failure to survive that spiritual jungle!
Let’s put in the necessary time to train, equip, and prepare our family to make it through this world spiritually alive!
Neal Pollard