A Little Child Shall Lead Them
Good News Magazine
March 1976
Volume: Vol XXV, No. 3
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A Little Child Shall Lead Them
Robert C Smith  

Never before in history have youth — the children of our nations — had such influence in the world, even to toppling and reestablishing governments. Though youthful oppression is promised at a time when world leadership has caused its peoples "to err" (Isa. 3:12), other prophecies promise a fantastic future for these same young people. Once they have been properly taught, they will have the most unique and challenging opportunity in history: to become leaders in the World Tomorrow under God's government.

   Our world has lost its flavor. The spice is gone and in its wake is an extremely bland, unpalatable limbo of homogenized mediocrity.
   Individuality is found only in the garish glare of the myriad television sets reposed in their respective altar-like niches. Young minds — and old — are captivated by the magnetic strength and booming-character of a Matt Dillon, Ben Cartwright or the Six-Million-Dollar Man. The gnawing realization that something is dramatically missing in our societies, and consequently in our lives, creates resentment, frustration and rebellion.
Instantaneous, Nightmarish Destruction? Our world has changed! Prior to 1945, its citizens were not subjected to the awesome specter of total nuclear annihilation. Prior to just a short century ago, the world continued on basically the same course originally charted at man's beginning on this earth. The world was basically agrarian in nature and the problems of respective countries were generally of little interest to the world per se.
   Sophisticated technology became a reality just twenty short years following the Armistice of 1918 which concluded the "war to end all wars." Radar, sonar, jet aircraft and other modern innovations" replaced the long-established methods of conventional warfare, and that "progress" continued right up to that infamous day when people all over the world puzzled at their newspaper headlines: "Atom Bomb Destroys Hiroshima."
   Since then, the entire society of man has lived under the threat of instantaneous, nightmarish destruction — at the whim of any number of frail despots who sit at the controls of the world.
   Is it any wonder our youth are uncertain and resentful?
   They live in the first society in which mankind has produced the capability to absolutely obliterate himself from existence, worldwide!
The Cry of Youth. In our introverted society, we cling desperately to "today," because we cannot be certain there will be any tomorrows. The global community is engaged in a furtive battle for survival — and it has produced youth who ache for changes, security, peace and happiness, but do not know the way to achieve it.
   That frustration is vented in myriad ways. The heartache of watching our youth run frantically in search of answers became obvious with the introduction of the "Hippie movement" several years ago — and which spread like wildfire among the youth of nations all over the world. A withdrawal from the existing society seemed to be the motivating factor, but without valid alternatives a sort of "subculture" resulted.
   Protests were voiced from college campuses around the world, and united effort by force soon began to unseat long-established governments throughout Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Our youth also wrought havoc in colleges and universities in England and America.
   A frustrated adult world, suffering from acute pangs of guilt at the unsettling recognition they had failed their heritage, began to apologize weakly by accepting the symbols of that rebellion and tacitly getting "in step" with it — as followers, and no longer leaders!
   The societies of the world belong to the youth, and they will contemptuously legislate their "no-answer" culture to an adult world they cannot accept. Today's music belongs to the youth. Advertising is geared toward our teenagers and young adults — for they are responsible for the success or failure of products, personalities and businesses.
   Violence is as much a part of our young people's way of life as apple pie and Mom used to be in the older generation. Blatant and homogenous pre- and post- marital sex activity is accepted as natural, and the older folks might have a difficult time explaining it any other way to them. After all, haven't the adults set the example?
   When an "individual" does stand up, he immediately has a hungry, adoring following. Our youth aches for leadership!
A Panorama of Our Day. In the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament' of the Bible, God inspired the prophet to record events in advance of our day — a time when the leaders have lost knowledge of the way which would guarantee peace, happiness and abundant, rich, productive living. A time when the leaders have failed to establish governmental systems structured upon equity. A time when confusion and near chaos reign world wide, and when there are seemingly no answers.
   Isaiah wrote: "For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away... the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, the mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, the captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator. And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them" (Isa. 3:1-4).
   Here is portrayed a panorama bf life, from the ability to properly provide foodstuffs and nourishment for millions, to the ultimate inability of our great military men, our lawmen, the average men on the street, the businessmen and the great, eloquent speakers to administer proper judgment. It talks about a time of global confusion!
   Is it any wonder our youth attempt to establish their own laws?
   Continuing in verse 12: "As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths."
   What a stern indictment against our world leaders — in government, religion and education.
   Our world is in chaos!
   Our youth are smart enough to recognize that fact, and they desire to do something to dramatically change it. But they do not yet have the answers or the wherewithal to achieve that goal. That frustration has led to the oppression which Isaiah wrote about.
We Shall Yet Be Saved. What the world does not yet understand is that the Almighty God who created this planet is not going to allow man to destroy himself. When Jesus Christ inspired Matthew to write about the "time of the end" — a time when "iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (Matt. 24:12) — He guaranteed His intervention in an awesome manner.
   "For, then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved [alive]: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened" (verses 21-22).
   That promise is the only hope for this world in which you and I live! That promise is one which will open opportunities unimagined to the youth hungrily seeking strong leadership. That leadership will come through the government of Almighty God!
   Christ said the world would enter into a time of tribulation and trial such as has never been experienced before. That means it must necessarily be the most perilous time in man's history; a time when, barring divine intervention, man would literally commit universal cosmoscide.
   We are living in those general times today!
Time of the End. For centuries men have been proclaiming the impending doom of the world, but only since the advent of nuclear weapons in 1945 has that doom become an absolutely immediate reality.
   The Bible talks about shocking events prophesied to happen in the "time of the end." The good news is that only the governments of man will end. Only the way of life which has led us inexorably to the brink of destruction will be destroyed.
   Isaiah 24:21-22 warns: "In that day... the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth," Punishment is coming upon world rulers.
   Notice also Isaiah 13:9: "Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it."
   The "day of the Lord" is also the "day" or time of the imminent return of Jesus Christ to this earth to set up His world government (see Zechariah 14:1-9).
   When Jesus Christ sets His feet on the Mount of Olives and begins to restore His government on this earth, there will be millions of people alive who have survived the prophesied nuclear holocaust — who will eagerly reach out, with tear-stained eyes and hearts filled with gratitude, for instruction in the way of life which will completely turn them around. They will want to be shown how to live, why they were born, and what is their ultimate destiny.
   In the United States alone, more than one half of the population is under 27 years of age, In the rest of the world, the average age is even younger.
   The populations of the world are prophesied to be reduced dramatically through war, famine, pestilence and natural disasters just prior to the intervention of God, but there will still be multiple millions of human beings left alive — and most of them will be under twenty-four years old.
Opportunity for Leadership. Who would be the most logical ones to teach them in the new way of life? Who would be better able to equate with, empathize with, have rapport with than those of their own peer group? Would not peers who understand the same philosophies be better qualified to assist in reeducating the masses?
   God offers a fantastic challenge to the youth of today, who recognize the world has gone insane but are unable to change it — now! Rather than vicariously live "leadership" in the heroes of yesterday, or in the limited scope of television productions, God is offering our youth the opportunity to train to become leaders over millions in just a few short years.
   Rather than agonize at the "no-answer" society of today — the result of blatantly and flagrantly ignoring living laws designed to insure healthy, happy lives — be one who gives the answers to the eager society in the World Tomorrow!
   Are you a teenager or young adult who aches for the opportunity to make right the myriad wrongs you are able to recognize? Do you, if you live in England, anguish at the disintegration of the once awesome British Empire — on which the sun never set? Do you — the youth of France, Australia, Europe, Israel — not fervently desire to discover the answers which will enable all peoples of the community of earth to be filled and satisfied?
   Can you — the youth of productive America, who have shown by your frustrated fruits your total unacceptance of the heritage bequeathed you — continue to lash out in rebellion without accomplishment?
   Or does something tell you there is a better way — and that way is available to you right this instant?
   God desires that His creation have the good life (III John 2). He has created us for such an ultimate destiny as to literally boggle the mind.
Utopia. After the coming oppression and holocaust will come a time of total peace and harmony such as the world has never known. A loving God — with the assistance of physical human beings — will reestablish a utopian society on this earth. As the prophet Ezekiel wrote: "But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people Israel; for they are at hand to come. For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown: and I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded: and I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the Lord" (Ezek. 36:8-11).
   And Isaiah 11:9: "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."
   Can you imagine a society where there is no hurt, and no one is trying to destroy? Can you visualize — and desire — a society where right government leads nations into the fulfillment of everything God wishes for us?
   Verse 6: "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them."
   You — as a little child in this new society — can also be a leader. You can begin today to relieve yourself of all the frustrations and anxieties which surround you in your daily struggle, and begin to prepare to be a strong leader in the government of the World Tomorrow.
   God wants you to help humanity!

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Good News MagazineMarch 1976Vol XXV, No. 3