The full text of this tract is shown below in the KJV version. (Do you want to print this tract in a different version than the one listed? Contact us and let us know what you're looking for—we may be able to create the alternate version for you at no charge.)

I couldn’t help but notice what a precious baby you have. Congratulations on being a parent! Here are a few things I would like you to know.

Children Are A Gift From God

“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth” (Psalm 127:3-4).

It is a privilege to be a parent. God has given you an awesome responsibility in trusting you with a child. There are many people that desire to have a baby and are not able to; throughout history children have been rightly viewed as precious treasures.

We All Love Our Children and Want The Best For Them

Most people strive to give their children whatever they believe was lacking in their own upbringing, be it material possessions, participation in arts or sports, or a quality education.

“If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?” (Luke 11:11-12).

All parents want their child(ren) to be happy and to grow up to have a successful and fulfilling life. We do our best to ensure that it will not be our child who ends up in poverty, in trouble with the law, or dropping out of school. Sadly, raising good children is an increasingly difficult task in American society. There are so many decisions to be made and pitfalls to be avoided. It can be overwhelming.

How Do You Know What Is Best? The Bible Has the Answer.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever” (Psalm 111:10).

“For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6).

God established the family, and the Bible contains much instruction on that subject. If we truly want to be wise, we must turn to the source of all wisdom and not rely on our own thinking.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).

In fact, the Bible declares that we must put aside our thoughts in the matter of salvation. Many people correctly believe in an afterlife, but most of them don’t know the correct way to get to heaven and avoid hell. They think the default destination must be heaven and that only “really bad” people will end up in hell. It just makes sense that your eternal reward will be based on the deeds you did on this planet, right? Wrong!

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Proverbs 16:25).

You may be shocked to learn how God sees our good works.

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6).

But I’m Doing the Best I Can!

Even good, moral people are sinners in the sight of God. He is holy and perfect, and we aren’t. What is sin? Anything that is against God’s law.

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4).

The Ten Commandments were given to Moses thousands of years ago in the Old Testament, yet no one has ever been able to keep them perfectly. We lie, steal, blaspheme, commit sexual sin, and murder.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

What is the consequence of all this sin? Death. Not only death, but an eternity in hell.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14-15).

How can we escape this penalty?

What God truly wants is for us to quit pretending that we are “good enough.” We must humble ourselves, acknowledge our sin, and come to him by faith in his son, Jesus Christ.

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians 2:16).

“For 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” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Faith in what?

The gospel: that Christ died for our sins and was resurrected from the dead.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).

Many people believe that “Jesus did his part and now we have to do ours.” But if we could go to heaven based upon our own good works, then Christ didn’t have to be crucified.

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” (Galatians 2:21).

You Can Put Your Faith in Christ Today!

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

There’s no special prayer or place for this to happen. Talk to God, admit that you are a sinner, and place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to rescue you from the punishment you deserve. He will save you from your sins. After this, you should contact a Bible-believing church and be baptized. Baptism has no role in salvation, but is an important testimony of a new believer.

Then You Will Have God’s Help to Be the Parent Your Child Needs.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever” (Psalm 111:10).

“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Psalm 119:130).

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

“The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him” (Proverbs 20:7).

“Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God” (Deuteronomy 12:28).

Back to top of page