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(A Decision Day sermon preached four times from Patricroft 5/29 to Katherine Road 10/16/29)

2 Samuel 18.29 “Is the young man Absalom safe?”

Behind the text is one of the most dramatic and moving stories of the Old Testament. David, as you know, had been driven from home and throne by the rebellion led by his handsome and cruel son Absalom. When the messenger came from the field in which the decisive battle was fought, the king was lost in the father. David’s first question was not, “How has the battle gone?” but, “Is my son safe?” When the news was broken that his soldiers had triumphed, but his son slain, all the glory of the victory was gone, all his son’s base ingratitude was forgotten, and there came from David’s broken heart the most poignant wail of sorrow that ever fell from mortal lips: “Absalom, my son, would God I had died for thee!”

It was necessary to say that much about the story and some day we must return to it. But for this special day I want to lift the text from its context and ask the king’s question concerning our young people. Are they safe? Is it well with them? I deliberately put the query in Dr. Moffatt’s colloquial translation—“Is young Absalom all right?”

We are familiar with the question as it relates to the physical, mental, and material well-being of our young people. We consult a doctor about their health. We sacrifice our comforts to educate their minds. We try to secure them a business appointment that will give them a safe job for life and a comfortable pension. And no sane man quarrels with that! Our quarrel is with those who are careless and slip-shod in these matters and who allow their children to go out into the world with ill-nurtured bodies, badly equipped minds, and into blind alleys.

But even when we are satisfied that our young people are fit in body and mind for the battle of life, there is a further question to be faced: is all right morally and spiritually with our young people? That is the supreme question and we have not given it the consideration it deserves. The days in which we live make it imperative that we should face it. Our young people are facing dangers that did not exist for us. The conditions of life and labor expose them to enormous risks. The liberty they demand and are taking is fraught with peril for them.

Reading some of the horrible cases brought by the papers to our notice we have wondered what parents were about that they did not know where or with whom their young folk were. One can only conclude they supposed it was all right. And I insist that when the safety of your young people is concerned, you ought not to be content with suppositions. Of course, I know that you cannot always be with them and that as they grow up they will choose their own way. But there are some things you can do to safeguard them and secure their well-being.

You can forearm by forewarning them. It is quite clear that in these days they cannot live the sheltered and shielded life of years ago. At school, in business, in books and pictures things are freely discussed that once would have been forbidden. Your young folk will learn many things you did not know at their age. It is for us, and especially those who are parents, to take trouble to find out what they are learning and where. Do you know what they are reading? Or what films they go see? Do you take trouble to perform the delicate and difficult task of informing them and safeguarding them against the temptations peculiar to youth in these days? Reverently and earnestly I say, don’t for God’s sake and their sake let them learn life’s most intimate things from rotten yellow-backed novels or unworthy films. You needn’t preach at them, you can wisely and lovingly forewarn and so forearm them.

Further, it is impossible to exaggerate the safeguarding influences of godly lives and pious examples. Many a young fellow is kept straight in the midst of temptation by the memory of what his father was. Many a girl simply cannot go wrong while memory keeps alive her mother’s example. Make your religion the everyday business of your homes and your example such that your children can never excuse the reality. What you are and do profoundly affects the children of the home. You cannot be surprised that a lad wants a ticket in a sweepstake if he knows his father has a flutter in the Derby. It isn’t easy to preach temperance to young folk who see drink on the home table. Bring up your young folk in the instruction and admonition of the Lord and you help to make them safe.

And be sure your example brings them under the prayerful influence of the sanctuary. Frankly, I am going to say that I’m nervous about young folk who treat church attendance lightly. But can we expect young people to treat seriously what we take lightly? “I have tried every way and can’t get them to go to church,” said a father to a minister. “There is one way you haven’t tried,” said the minister. “What is that?” “You haven’t tried taking him.” Let your young people see how tremendously these things count with you and as they are surrounded by the influences of the sanctuary they are more likely to be safe.

On this Decision Day I am going to say what I believe every day: It is not well with our young people until they have come to definite decision for Christ. Your fathers and mothers said to you, “Twill save them from ten thousand snares to mind religion young.” It will save your children too. I simply dare not think of what my own life would have been but for an early decision to be a Christian. That is why this day means so much to some of us and ought to mean more to all. I cannot believe that all is right with our young people until they have given themselves to Christ and joined His church. I say it about them and to them. You will be surrounded by temptations and perils and your great safeguard lies in giving yourself to Christ and letting Him be your Savior from sin. It is in fellowship with Christ that strength is renewed that keeps us straight.

I spoke just now of David’s agony and remorse, of his poignant cry, “Would God I had died for thee.” When I preach on that text I shall have to point out that the deepest agony in that cry was the circumstances of his own sin and failure. We would die to save our young folk from sin and anguish. Would it not be better to live so as to save them? It is so easy for many of them to go astray, we ought to leave nothing undone that we can do. Sometime ago I read in a religious weekly (Methodist Recorder Oct 13/24) the story of a girl who had been tricked into sin. I marked this sentence in a letter she wrote to a minister. “All my life I, through my own sin, shall be a looker in at other girls’ happiness.” Poor girl! The Lord deal tenderly with her wherever she is. But the sin is not hers alone. I say nothing of the sin of the one who tricked her, but I wonder if she might have been saved if someone had taken the trouble to teach and warn her, and lead her to Christ? A looker in at the happiness that might have been hers!

Are young Ted and Harry, Florence and Kate all right? Are they safe? It is our Christian duty to see that they are as safe as loving counsels, earnest prayers, pious examples, and sincere efforts to lead them to Christ can make them.