Young Children Ask …

The questions of elementary school children are many. The following written questions were submitted last month by children in Grades K-4. (In a future issue, the Lord willing, I hope to answer questions “Older Children Ask…”— that is, grades 5–8.)

The answers given are short and attempt to use simple language suitable for children of that age. It is our wish that also many boys and girls may profit from “Questions Answered.”

Why are the words of fesus Christ in red in the Bible?

Not all Bibles have Jesus’ words in red. Those that do are trying to show how important Jesus’ words are. What He says is more than what any man says.

There is one danger in printing Jesus’ words in red. Some people might think that those words are more important than the rest of the Bible because they are in red. We must remember that the whole Bible is really Jesus’ Word. Paul and Peter tell us that the whole Bible is spoken and breathed by Cod. We call this doctrine, “inspiration.” Read 2 Timothy 3:16 and II Peter 1:19–21.

Why is a fortune teller wicked?

Because only God knows what will happen in the future. Fortune tellers can only guess. Nor do we need a fortune teller, for if we know Cod, we do not need to worry about the future. We are safe in His hands. Read Psalm 91.

Is the earth going to be hell?

No. We don’t know exactly where hell will be. The Bible does speak about a new heaven and a new earth where everyone will be truly blessed and happy, so it may be that this earth will be part of heaven rather than part of hell. Read Revelation 21.

What does the word “communion” mean?

“Communion” is friendship. To commune with someone is like having a close friend whom you can talk to about everything. The Lord’s Supper is called “communion” for two reasons. First, especially because God shows His friendship to His people at the Lord’s Supper; and second, because they also show their friendship to each other.

There is no better communion or friendship than God’s. The Bible says He is the best Husband and Father there is (Is. 54:5; Heb. 12). He is a more faithful friend than the best brother (Prov. 18:24).

Can the minister understand when God talks in the thunder?

God isn’t speaking in actual words in thunder in that way. All words which He wants us to hear are written down for us in the Bible (II Peter 1:19–21; Rev. 22:18–19).

But God does speak in thunder in another way. He speaks in thunder just as He speaks in everything else. When you got out of bed this morning, He spoke to you of His goodness in sparing your life through another night. When you sat down for breakfast this morning, He spoke to you of His fatherly care in providing you with food. When it thunders, He speaks to you of His power, greatness, and majesty. In this way, God’s “voice” is in everything—in sickness and in health, in happy and sad times. In fact, in this way God is speaking to us all the time and everywhere. It’s too bad we don’t realize this more often.

God speaks to us in nature quite a bit about who He is (Rom. 1; Ps. 19), but we must come to know Him savingly in Jesus Christ. This saving knowledge of Cod becomes ours when the Holy Spirit applies the Bible to our hearts (Rom. 10:15–16). Let’s pray that we may all hear Cod’s voice through His Word to our eternal salvation. That’s what we all need—ministers also.

If someone has true salvation, will they be converted?

Yes. To be saved, to be regenerated, to receive a new heart, to be converted—all of these mean basically the same thing.

If God knows that people are not going to listen to God, why does He still preach to them?

For two reasons: First, because of His goodness, for He does not desire the death of the wicked; rather, He desires that they might repent, believe His Word, and live (Ez. 33:10–11). Second, when not listened to, His preached Word may also serve to add to a person’s judgment in hell (Rom. 3).

The Lord loves to convert boys and girls. In fact, He usually gives new hearts to people when they are young. So now is the best time for you to ask Him to give you a new heart and love for Him.

Is Lot’s wife still there?

In Genesis 19:26 we read that Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt. Some people living at the time of Jesus believed that they saw this pillar of salt (such as Josephus, Clement of Rome, and Irenaeus). And present-day travellers say this pillar of salt is still there.

What we do know is that pillars of salt exist in the area where Lot’s wife looked back. What we don’t know is if any particular one is the pillar of salt the Bible is talking about. Tradition says that one is, but we don’t know for sure.

More important is the lesson Lot’s wife teaches us—that we pray for strength not to turn back to the world and sin, and set our hearts on those things. Jesus said, “Remember Lot’s wife”(Lk. 17:32).

Who knows the true religion?

All those who have been taught by the Holy Spirit through the Bible to know themselves as lost and needy sinners (Ps. 51), to know Cod in Jesus Christ as their only hope of salvation (Jn. 17:3), and to know a life of thankfulness to God for such a great deliverance (1 Thes. 5:18). Read question 2 of our Heidelberg Catechism.

All these people are taught that true religion comes from God and unites us to Him. They learn to say with Jonah, “Salvation is of the Lord” (2:9), and with Paul, “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” (Eph. 2:8–9).

In all false “Christian” and heathen religions salvation is either the work of people or the work of God and people acting together. Only in true religion is God glorified to the highest, for the work of salvation is His grace in Jesus Christ from beginning to end. This is the religion of the Bible which is experienced by God’s people with humble joy and thankfulness.

If someone really felt converted and they weren’t, what would happen to them?

Sometimes the Lord shows such people they are wrong, and then converts them. Other times they die thinking to enter heaven, but will actually go to hell (Mt. 7:21–22).

How many wars were there in Bible times?

We don’t know the exact number. The Bible tells us of more than a hundred, and there were many more the Bible doesn’t speak about.

We must not think that there were more wars in Bible times than today. More than forty countries in the world are at war as we enter 1986. We may be thankful that God spared us from war and gave us freedom to worship Him in our churches for another year. We must pray for those who are at war, and especially for persecuted Christians in countries which do not allow the public worship of God.

Do you like to be a minister?

There are many things each minister likes about being a minister, and also some things that are not so enjoyable. Ministers are people who have likes and dislikes just like you. Some ministers enjoy preaching more than anything else: some, writing; some, teaching; some, visiting. We each have to do things in life that we don’t always feel like doing, while at the same time we must try to use the gifts that God gives us. That’s why one minister will do more of one thing than another, for he feels that God calls him to emphasize different parts of the ministry.

You may like reading better than math. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do any math. You should do your best in both. But when you have free time, it is fine and understandable if you do more reading than math. But if your brother likes math better, he will probably do more of that than reading. We may be glad that God has made us all with different desires and gifts.

More important than the question of liking to be a minister, is the feeling of responsibility. In a certain sense, this must be true of all of us. Whatever we do, we do in God’s sight and must look to Him to add His blessing.

How does the Lord tell you if you get a new heart?

The Lord doesn’t speak to us directly from heaven that we have received a new heart. Rather, the Bible tells us that we may know if we have a new heart by the “fruits” of our lives (Mt. 7:16). This means that a new heart shows itself in how we think, speak, and act.

These kinds of fruits are many. Here are some of them: A love for God and all the things of God, such as the Bible, church, and prayer. A hatred for all that God hates, such as sin, Satan, and placing anything above God. A sadness for all the sins we do when we don’t love God and love our parents, brothers and sisters, and friends as we should. A need to be saved from all our sins by God through His Son Jesus Christ who has died to save sinners by taking punishment in their place. A humble and thankful heart to God for the salvation He has provided in Jesus Christ. A desire to thankfully obey God and His law at all times, even though we often fail.

The Lord loves to convert boys and girls. In fact, He usually gives new hearts to people when they are young. So now is the best time for you to ask Him to give you a new heart and love for Him. In the Bible God says to you, “I love them that love Me; and those that seek me early [that means when young like you] shall find me” (Prov. 8:17).

Don’t be afraid to pray to God for a new heart. He loves to hear the prayers of young children. Try to pray this prayer: “Lord, show me who I am. Show me who Thou art. Please give me a new heart.”

Forward questions intended for this department to: Rev. J.R. Beeke, 55 Robin Hood Way, Wayne, NJ 07470. Questions will be published anonymously.

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