Heidelbergian Children's Catechism (age 8- 10 years)
Lord's Day 19
When I was your age, my grandfather lived close by. He often visited us. And when he left, I went with him for part of the way. Mother stayed home and waved goodbye. One time, my mother talked to me after I had come home. She said: “Next time you walk grandpa home, you let him walk at your right hand. That way you show that grandpa is different from a friend. It means you honour him. And you should do that with other elderly people, too.” Many young people laugh at this. They say: Right or left, what is the difference! They think it is ridiculous nonsense. But if I were you, I would do it anyway. For you know, being on the right side has always been the place of honour. When the Lord Jesus had ascended into heaven, He received the place of honour. The Apostles’ Creed says that He sits at the right hand of the God the Father. That is because of all the work He had done on earth for all God’s children, for the church of Christ. There He is sitting in glory at God’s right hand to help the church on earth. We all may know that we belong to the church. You too! The Lord Jesus looks after his church people, also those people who live in countries where it is hard to serve the Lord. They are often oppressed, or thrown in a prison. But then it also happens that more people believe in Jesus Christ. lsn’t it good that He can do all that? But don’t think that we need not do anything. He wants us to work for Him, and we should do that. We help when we pray for the church. And when we speak with others about the church. And when we work for the church. Later you will hear more about that. The church is sometimes called a body. And just as a body has a head, so the church has a head. We say that Jesus is the head of the church. He makes sure that all the people on earth who belong to Him will come to Him. Until everything is completed. That happens when He comes back on the clouds of heaven. And all his enemies disappear. Do you remember that we learned about the Trinity? About God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit? We first talked about the Father. Next, we have discussed the Son. There was much to say about Him, but that part is now done. The third part is about the Holy Spirit. Do you think this is hard? Keep it up.