"Young People Who Love God"     

            In Psalms 71:5, David said,  “For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth.” Likewise, in 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul says, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to            the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

            What a mistake it would be to look at young people today and think that they ALL have “gone to the dogs.” In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, we read a “prophecy” by Paul concerning this last dispensation of time, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ²For men will be lovers of them-selves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” While we have truly seen Paul’s words come to fruition in our own day, thankfully, all our young people are not disobedient to their parents.

            I am thankful to be a part of a congregation that has good, decent, God-fearing, God-loving, spiritual young people in it. I am thrilled when I hear announcements made about our young people attending and being so deeply involved in area events. This past weekend, a group of our own young people participated in a youth lectureship/workshop sponsored by the Conyers congregation. Also, only a few weeks ago, a small number of our youth participated and performed very well in an area Bible bowl. In addition, not long ago our young men conducted the worship services here during the “Southside Youth Devo,” and young ladies from our congregation attended and were a part of the Ladies Day (not to mention the young men who served the food and helped out in other ways).

            These, and many other, examples of our excellent young people here at Fairview are so very encouraging to those of us who are older. Many of these young people have more zeal and enthusiasm for the Lord and the church than do many of us who are their seniors.

            In Ecclesiastes 12:1, Solomon wrote, “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’” It is such a blessing to see many of our young people heeding the words of Solomon. If we wait until we are older to begin living Godly lives, it is not so easy to do. Youth is such an impressionable time when habits are formed and lifestyles are chosen. We have young people at Fairview who are choosing the right way to live NOW. These will likely be the leaders of the Lord’s church in the future.

            I am encouraged when I see young people worshipping God with all of their heart, listening to teachers and preachers as the Word of God is taught, helping in Bible classes, offering the invitation and preaching sermons, doing things for the sick and needy, carrying their Bibles to class and into the worship assembly, visiting with others before and after the worship assembly, and offering encouraging words to others who are doing many of these same things.

            In 2 Timothy 2:22-26, the Bible says, “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” I know it must be very difficult and challenging to be a young Christian in today’s world. It also was in Timothy’s world. So many young people are caught in Satan’s trap of worldliness and lust. We must reach out to them and try to help rescue them from the fate that awaits those who choose evil over good. 

            Instead of criticizing our youth, we need to be praying for them and encouraging them. They need to know how much we love them, and how steadfastly we will stand behind them as they continue to live for the Lord.