Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
The true character of the heart is always revealed by the manner of life you live. Although people learn quickly how to maintain a thin facade over their wicked hearts, those who live with them for a year or two will see through it. Young children, however, are not as accomplished in the hypocrisy game. Therefore, you do not need to live with them for a year before you discern the true condition of their hearts. Usually within thirty minutes or so, you will see their self-centeredness, pride, envy, and covetousness prominently displayed.
In fact, much of our child training teaches children to construct facades. They quickly learn to suppress their true intentions, especially if they want to avoid the pain of punishment or disapprobation. Even compliant children may quietly restrain their rebellion until a more convenient time. When they come of age, they then cast off their parent’s good counsel and restraints in order to live riotous, ungodly lives. This transformation usually comes as a tremendous surprise to those who thought they knew the once well-behaved, demure youngster. “She used to be such a good kid, but now look at her!” is usually what they say.
But then there is also the “special needs” child who wears his heart inside out for all to see. For some reason, he is incapable of concealing the wickedness of his heart, and the rod seems of little use to either form the protective facades over his heart or to produce any substantial change of heart. Much of the immediate change that comes by the use of the rod is only external. It does make it easier to live with most children (when it is used properly). So as we apply both the rod of correction and the rod of the Word over many years, we must trust that God will work His heart-level change in the child, whether he be a special needs child or not.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
How might we know the truth about the world, about ourselves, and the God Who made us? It is by the complex design of the eye and the ear that we learn truth. Our capacity to take in information from the world around us and to process it is all part of the creation of God. With the exception of a few people who cannot either hear or see, we all hear the words of truth by the ears, or see them as our eyes scan the pages of books or witness events taking place around us.
This assertion should at least confirm for us our dependence upon God for everything. We are not gods. We have not created ourselves, nor have we provided ourselves with the capacity to perceive or understand the truth. And once we have eyes and ears, we still may not correctly grasp the truth. There are plenty of men with eyes and ears who are entirely deceived about the world, themselves, and the nature of God. In the words of the Apostle, their minds are blinded, “lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Cor. 4:3–4). Again, it must be God Who gives us ears to hear and eyes to see if the light of the glorious Gospel will shine into our dark souls!
1. How can we tell that a child is being self-centered or proud? What are the sorts of things he might do or say?
2. How do children construct their facades?
3. How do we come to the knowledge of truth?