And the bill always comes later

It is going to take awhile, but I may be able to eventually forget the North Carolina newspaper picture of a man, his smiling wife and their four young sons grouped together for a swearing-in photo. The shock of seeing this seemingly happy scene in relation to the story it highlighted resulted in a sigh and sudden blur of tears.

Why should that be a problem?

Was it because the picture was displayed as part of uncovering of the man's adulterous affair with another woman? That, today, isn't unusual.

Was it the fact that the man is the governor of the state of South Carolina? Today, a governor, or a politician, caught in a sex-capade isn't all that rare.

Was it because this man had become the political icon of conservatism, family values, personal ethics and was outspoken in religious piety? This should not, by today's standards, be so disturbing – hypocrisy is so commonplace.

But I just can't shake the picture of four young boys lined up, oldest to the youngest – who was holding up the Bible – looking up at their father, under the smiling eyes of their mother. It is a picture telling a story far more devastating than one of being caught and exposed as a philanderer. It was a picture of the beginning of a story – yet to be told – of the future of four young lads.

It seems strange, in view of the predatory nature of today's media, that politicians blindly pursue precarious lifestyles that, upon disclosure, will destroy their careers and, sadly, their families. Affairs with interns in the Oval Office, liaisons with professional prostitutes, hand signals in an airport men's room, accepting bribes, payoffs for political appointments, etc., have become common fare to the public. And the predators lap it up, to vomit it out before all of us in living color.

But the picture continues to haunt me; this untold story of four boys nervously looking up at their father. "It's all right, Dad's here. We can get through this. Dad is here – our Dad the Governor. Dad is not afraid to stand up to even the federal government."

I don't know, do kids even think like this today, in our world of sleaze, Internet porn, filthy song lyrics, doped-up rock stars, schoolhouse shootings? I remember my Dad; he could whip your Dad, easily.

"Mom's here, too. She and Dad are here with us. We are all here together. It will be okay."

I cannot imagine the future for them now. The predators are having a field day. It matters not at all that these young innocents read papers and watch television, too. After all, "It is our right to know, right?" – every titillating detail, right down to the last juicy tidbit of every last email, in every newspaper, on every channel, talk show, day-after-day, night-after-night, "It's our right to know, buster. We're taxpayers."

But there were four young boys, looking nervously up at their Dad and Mom – dressed up in suits and ties, all in a row, "Dad and Mom are here, guys. It will be all right. This will be over soon and we can go play."

History has told the story over and over. It never has been all right. And it will not be all right until there is a change in the way men and women view their sacred responsibilities regarding their families, and especially their children.

The Bible the young lad was holding states it this way: "Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord" (Psalm 128:1-4).

Jesus Christ is soon to return with His Father's kingdom, to establish the family of God. Then all men will be able to say in that day, "It will be all right – Dad is here."

Send for our free booklet: The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like? And God speed the day!