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Bible Will I Find: The Role Of Youth In The Church? By: Gary Colley
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Bible Will I Find: The Role Of Youth In The Church? By: Gary Colley
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We love and appreciate our young people, and have the greatest of interest in them. The Lord’s church has many great young people who have decided to live “in Christ” by deciding not to live according to the world. They have put away from their lives the “lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (I Jn.2:15-17), and now live righteous lives as their Lord commands (Matt.28:18-20). The Bible speaks to young people today and recognizes the exciting and challenging time of life when we are young. The wise man Solomon said in his book of Ecclesiastes, “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth..” (Ecc.11:9-10). In the closing chapter he wrote, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecc.12:13-14). The best life that anyone can live is in obedience to our Savior and Lord Jesus the Christ. We praise those young people who strive to be the proper example to others. Paul wrote, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (I Tim.4:12-13). What wonderful service our youth can offer in service to our God. Life is wonderful if we live it right. Good times and happiness are not removed because we live for Christ! There is more to be enjoyed by following the Bible than acting according to a worldly life. Sin will cause us shame, make us the wrong example, and may give us a death sentence with AIDS. Since young people die too, we exhort all young people to take serious things in a serious way. Are you prepared for life because you have acted wisely in obeying the Gospel and walk or live in the Truth? You can become a Christian and prepare your soul for the Judgment, by faith in Christ, repenting of your sins, confessing your Lord before men, and being baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 22:16). The wise man said, My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent” (Prov.1:10). And again, “A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the grief of his mother. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death” (Prov.10:1-2). –Gary Colley