A Young Person Who Makes a Difference! |
Those Who Live by Faith |
The Bible gives us an example of someone who was "brought" by someone else: Lot. When Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees he took his nephew Lot with him (Gen. 11: 31; 12:5). Lot was brought by Abraham every time. There is not one account of Lot taking the initiative to seek the God of Abraham or of him actually following Abraham. He was always brought, carried, pushed by Abraham and he never sought to experience God. What was the result? At one point in his life he separated himself from his uncle and was no longer cared for by him (Gen. 13:10). The Bible shows us that little by little he moved his tent as far as Sodom (Gen. 13:11-12).
The problem began when there was disagreement between Abraham's and Lot's herdsmen (Gen. 13:6-7). Then Abraham asked Lot to choose the place where he wanted to live. If Lot went one way, Abraham would go the other. Lot chose the plains of Jordan because they were well watered and he knew that it was much more difficult to live in the mountains. He believed he had made the right choice, but the result was that he came to live in Sodom.
After a certain time there was a war between four and five kings. The four kings won and took Lot as a captive. Abraham found out and while depending on God, with only three hundred and eighteen men, defeated the four kings and rescued his nephew (Gen.14:12-17). Abraham risked his life for Lot. Yet did this make Lot follow Abraham? No, after being freed he probably believed that his home was in Sodom. Abraham went back to the mountains and Lot, because he was passive, went back to Sodom. Lot was a piece of wood, dead, being carried by the current. In today's language, whatever his group would do, he would do; wherever his group would go, he would go. He would not take a stand, he was one carried by the current because he was passive and depended on others. Today many young people are like Lot. They say: "if my father goes to the meeting I will go, but if he doesn't go I won't go. If my father prays I will pray, but if he does not pray I won't pray either. If my father purchases Bibles and spiritual books, that's fine, but if he doesn't, I don't really care".
Young one, you need to wake up! If you want to be strong then you need to seek God. He is waiting for you to seek Him, for you to have a definite experience with Him, so that when someone asks where you meet you may say: "I touched God, I know Him and He spoke to me, He called me and He appeared to me".
What kind of end did Lot come to? Luke 17:32 says: "Remember Lot's wife". Lot's wife was a part of him. Before God destroyed Sodom two angels came to Lot because Abraham had prayed for Lot to be rescued. At that time, the leaders of the city would sit at the gates of the city where they would judge people, and it was there the angels found Lot (Gen. 19:1). He had made himself a leader in an evil city. The men in that city, seeing the two men (angels) enter Lot's house, wanted to sexually abuse them (vv. 3-5). Sodom was full of homosexuality, prostitution, fornication and illicit sexual relationships.
Is this not what you see on television? From a young age children are taught to be involved in amorous relationships. It is common to hear the question: "do you have a boyfriend? Do you have a girlfriend? Have you been with him/her?" Children as young as 10 years of age already have lovers. It is common to encourage young people to have their first sexual relationship at an early age. This is what was being practiced in Sodom.
Young one, forget the philosophy "the younger the better", or "take advantage of your youth" or "if your body is ready then you are ready". The passive generation, who is carried along by others, says: "it's true. They're right. My mom and dad don't know anything. I have to take advantage of my life, the younger I experience sex the better". Young people such as these are one way in front of their parents and are something else when their parents are not around. This is to be passive, without personality.
The Bible shows us that Lot and his family loved Sodom so much that the angels had to take them forcibly by the hand so that they would leave the city (Gen. 19:15-16). This is what happens with so many young people. It is as if they were saying: "Ah, my dear Sodom, my video game, my favourite TV show, my friend's parties. How can I miss out on all of this?" The angel had to actively go to pull Lot and his family out of the city. Young one, will it take an angel to pull you out of the world? As they were leaving, the heart of Lot's wife was torn but the angel told them that they were not to look back because God was going to judge the city (Gen. 19:17). And God came to judge her. God will also come to judge this world. Whether your friends, parents, teachers accept it or not, it is a fact that God is coming to judge this world. Lot's wife looked back and became a pillar of salt. What a shame! She became a symbol of shame. The Lord quoted her name, but in the Bible it is a shame to be quoted in such a way as: "Remember Lot's wife". This is such a solemn warning to all of us. Do you want to be such an embarrassment, such a negative example?
Many of us know of young people who did not seek God; they began to have small amorous relationships, they started to know each other emotionally, later they had sexual relationships as boyfriend and girlfriend that resulted in pregnancy. Today what became of them? Where are they? They became a pillar of salt.
Young one, is this what you want? Do you want to be as passive as Lot and his wife? Do not deceive yourself. Your parents and the serving ones who care for you are unable to be with you all the time to look after you, they can't even know what goes through your mind, but God does. It is not a matter of control or manipulation. It is a matter of: what do you want in your Christian life? What is your intention when you participate in conferences or church meetings? We hope that in every meeting, whether it is junior high, young people or adults, meetings throughout the week or conference meetings, you could say: "I came to know my God". Have a time with God; pray to Him individually; verify what your true intentions are in your Christian life and in the church life. Turn your heart to God while there is still time.
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