Saturday, September 1, 2007

You're Only Young Once

I’m sure that all of you have heard this saying. It’s often used by reckless young people who want to excuse their wild living. They say they want to go out and “have a good time” in the world. Later, when they’ve had their fun, they will come back to God, religion, and other serious things. “I’m only young once,” they plead. “I want to have fun while I’m still young.” What they don’t realize is that they are wasting the most important years of their lives!

Yes, we’re only young once. Is it a time to gratify our selfish desires? Is it a time to do whatever we want? No! God’s Word says, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth,” Ecclesiastes 12:1 (emphasis supplied). Why wait until you are old to surrender your heart to God? So many people think that doing whatever you want is freedom, but it’s a lie! If you do not choose God, then who are you choosing? There are only two choices. One is God, and with Him comes true peace and joy and life. The other is Satan and self, and these only bring unhappiness, discontent, and death in the end.

Why should we choose to spend our youth doing things we will only regret later? We don’t have to! God is freely offering us a much better way. He longs for each one of us to give Him our hearts, to let Him make us into something truly beautiful. He wants to restore His own character in us. He wants to make us the young people we were really meant to be. God has great plans for each one of us. All we have to do is choose His way, and allow Him to change us from the inside out!

We want to challenge each one of you to give your youth – the best years of your life – to God. Think of all He’s done for us. Jesus went through more than any of us will ever have to suffer. Surely this great and awesome God deserves the very best we can give Him. As youth we are strong, enthusiastic, and energetic. God needs workers like us. He wants to make us His ambassadors to a lost and dying world. Will we let Him?

Sure, this kind of surrender to God is a step of faith. We’ll have to deal with our short-comings and sins. We will have to daily, hourly, minute-by-minute seek the direction of our Father. God is going to ask hard things of us. And we’re human, so we will make mistakes. But each time we pick ourselves up and determine, in God’s strength, not to make the same mistakes again, we learn valuable lessons. All of this builds character – strong, beautiful character. It’s an adventure to give God control of your life! You never know what He’s going to ask of you, what He’s going to do next. It’s exhilarating, exciting! He has big plans for each of His children.

Will you give your youth to God? Will you give your BEST to God? You’re only young once. We encourage you to give yourself completely to your loving Father. You will never regret it!

Yours in Christ,
Natasha and Melissa

The words of this hymn go beautifully with this post. This is our challenge – Christ’s challenge – to you!
~
Give of Your Best to the Master
~
Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Throw your soul’s fresh, glowing ardor
Into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example,
Dauntless was He, young and brave;
Give Him your loyal devotion;
Give Him the best that you have.
~
Refrain:
Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.
~
Give of your best to the Master;
Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service;
Consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given;
God His beloved Son gave;
Gratefully seeking to serve Him,
Give Him the best that you have.
~
Give of your best to the Master;
Naught else is worthy His love;
He gave Himself for your ransom,
Gave up His glory above.
Laid down His life without murmur,
You from sin’s ruin to save;
Give Him your heart’s adoration;
Give Him the best that you have.
~
Howard B. Grose