I found this article written by an anonymous writer and I felt it was worth repeating. It is entitled, "The Pull Downward".

"In looking over my congregation", says a preacher, "I find that, while several pious fathers have unconverted children, there are but few prayerless fathers who have converted sons."

The pull of the father downward is too strong for the upward pull of the Sunday School and the pulpit. If the father talks money constantly, he usually raises a family for mammon. If he talks about books at his table, he is likely to awaken a thirst for literature. If he talks horses and sports, he brings up a family of jockeys and sportsmen. If he makes his own fireside attractive in the evening, he will probably succeed in anchoring his children at home. But if he hears the clock strike eleven in the dance hall or the bar, he need not be surprised if his boys hear it striking twelve in the same bar. If he leads in irreligion, what but the grace of God can keep his boys from following him to hell? The history of such a family is commonly written in that sadly frequent description given in the Old Testament: 1Ki 22:52 "And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father."

What you allow in your life will escalate in the life of your children. The old phrase, "like father, like son," is still true. If you are not saved, one of the torments of hell will be the realization that your children are there also because of your neglect of spiritual preparation. Think about that. Jesus Christ is the only hope. Simple, but true.