As children mature, they are willing to use correct grammar although their parents may not. These children may also be willing to use better farming or business methods if they have an opportunity to learn better methods. They may even have different political views than their parents. However, many of these same individuals profess to think that their parents' knowledge regarding religion is completely right and should never be questioned. Most of this talk about "what my mother said" may grow from an indifference toward religion resulting in a lack of desire for scriptural investigation. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves" (2 Cor. 13:5). Are we willing to do this? Each one of us will give an account of his or her own deeds. If our relatives that are dead did miss the way, they are now eager for us to avoid their mistake. The rich man wanted Abraham to send Lazarus to his "father's house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead" (Luke 16:27-31).
In religious discussions people often speak of those dear loved ones who are dead. "Do you think they are lost?" they ask. We must all be aware that the destiny of those who are dead is settled. We cannot change it. We are not the judge. We should think more of souls that are influenced directly or indirectly by us. We cannot change the destiny of our dead ancestors, but we do have a grave responsibility toward our children and grandchildren. In the future, our children may follow our religious ideas just as we may have followed our parents'. We must not lead our own descendants astray. We must be careful for their sakes as well as for our own that we seek and find the truth as taught in the scriptures. Our special responsibility is now, and is pointing toward the future. Please study the Bible because it is our only perfect source of God's will (Deut. 29:29). Jesus tells us in John 12:48 that we will be judged by the words which He spoke. This means that opinions, traditions, and popularity in religious thought will not be the important factors that many believe them to be.
An illustration has existed for many years concerning a man who made the flour and meal at the old water mill for the farmers who brought in their grain. He also sold the products to others. The Bureau of Standards was set up, and a representative was sent out to check the units of measurement used by people in various businesses. He found that the sturdy old metal container used by the miller was too small. The miller said, "This business has been here a long time and was operated by my father before he died. This was his container. Are you saying that my father was dishonest?" The answer was, "I am not saying that your father was dishonest, but I am saying that you will be dishonest if you use that container in selling your products now that you know it is too small!"
For us to please God, we need to have the right attitude toward Him and His word. We also need to have the proper information which he has provided to us. Israel was taken into captivity because they became ignorant of God's will. "Therefore my people have gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge" (Isa. 5:13). They had reached that point because they had developed the wrong attitude toward God and His word. "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the Lord" (Jer. 8:12).