"Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD ." Joshua 24: 14-15
What is our focus in life? What goals, what aims, what ends are we serving? Are we still clamouring for the things for the world- seeking to look good in front of people, seeking to be popular, seeking to be rich, seeking to possess all the material things that are sought after? These are things that the world seeks after, and it often begins in the teenage years. But I believe it is utterly crucial that we, as youth in our teenage years, make the choice now, just as Joshua proclaimed, who or what we are going to serve in our lives. Are we going to serve the gods in our modern age- money, fame, etc. etc., or are we going to serve the One True God who has saved us and called us?
Teenage years are particularly important years in a person's life- they are the years when the person's characters, views, beliefs and principles are moulded and shaped. We will find that as adulthood approached steadily, and as the burdens and responsibilities of life become heavier and heavier, it becomes harder and harder to change our lives, to make tough life-changing decisions, to change our previously shaped mindsets and values. Not impossible of course, but harder. And that is why I believe it is crucial that as youths we lay our foundations strong and secure in God, so that when the tougher times in life come, and when we have to grapple with much tougher issues, we will be able to respond in the way that God would want us to, and having made the choice to serve Him, to continue devoting our lives to Him. Approach later years with a shaky and unstable foundation, and more often than not we will find ourselves easily shaken and swayed, and lured by the trappings of the world that Satan dangles so attractively before our eyes. It is never too young to choose to serve the Lord; Jeremiah was but 8 years old when God called Him. In fact, the younger we can, the better!
God reminds us constantly not to focus on the things of the world but to focus on Him. "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2. "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." What does it mean for our life to be hidden with Christ? I think it means that we are no longer competing with others in this world for the things that they strive for, but rather we are content to let our lives be completely tucked away in God's purposes. Col. 3: 2-3. "You must therefore endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier." 2 Tim 2:3-4.
This is the hard part; this is where we are unwilling to give things up and make sacrifices. But that is because we come with the preconception that we must have these things that we cling on so hard to, in order to be happy. Lord, if you take away these things from me, how am I ever going to be happy? But that is exactly the notion that God wants to get rid of, and that is where we must take the step of faith. That is where we must surrender all, put ourselves in the Hand of God and trust that He will make us happy. Much more than that, He will give us joy. The Lord has a much better way in store for us- come to Me, and I will show you what is the meaning of true joy, free from all the trappings of the world, a joy that is higher and deeper than any happiness you can find on earth. You may not be used to it, but when you have received it, you will love it. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:11.
This does not mean, as some people may think, that we will become hermits. This does not mean that God will not take care of our needs on earth, or deny us all earthly pleasures. Not at all. Why God wants us to come to Him in this way is because He wants us to get our priorities right. As long as we are looking in the wrong place and seeking the wrong things, we will never be fully happy, we will never find the joy we were intended to have. And we will never discover our eternal purpose of serving our eternal God, which is a terrible, terrible waste. Once we recognize God as our ultimate purpose and choose to serve Him in our lives, we will find that He blesses His servants in many wonderful ways, some earthly, others intangible. But by that time these things will not matter so much anymore- what would really matter to us, and bring us the greatest joy, is serving the Lord Himself. What a great honour!
Let's be honest with ourselves and ask ourselves, whom or what we are really serving in our lives. It is easy to say on the outside that we are serving the Lord while on the inside our hearts are still yearning for the things of the world. Do not be ashamed of it, for we all struggle to let go in this aspect. "He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." 1 Thess. 5:24
In conclusion, let me share with you an excerpt from a poem that I find exceedingly meaningful-
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing I asked for -- but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men the most richly blessed.
What is our focus in life? What goals, what aims, what ends are we serving? Are we still clamouring for the things for the world- seeking to look good in front of people, seeking to be popular, seeking to be rich, seeking to possess all the material things that are sought after? These are things that the world seeks after, and it often begins in the teenage years. But I believe it is utterly crucial that we, as youth in our teenage years, make the choice now, just as Joshua proclaimed, who or what we are going to serve in our lives. Are we going to serve the gods in our modern age- money, fame, etc. etc., or are we going to serve the One True God who has saved us and called us?
Teenage years are particularly important years in a person's life- they are the years when the person's characters, views, beliefs and principles are moulded and shaped. We will find that as adulthood approached steadily, and as the burdens and responsibilities of life become heavier and heavier, it becomes harder and harder to change our lives, to make tough life-changing decisions, to change our previously shaped mindsets and values. Not impossible of course, but harder. And that is why I believe it is crucial that as youths we lay our foundations strong and secure in God, so that when the tougher times in life come, and when we have to grapple with much tougher issues, we will be able to respond in the way that God would want us to, and having made the choice to serve Him, to continue devoting our lives to Him. Approach later years with a shaky and unstable foundation, and more often than not we will find ourselves easily shaken and swayed, and lured by the trappings of the world that Satan dangles so attractively before our eyes. It is never too young to choose to serve the Lord; Jeremiah was but 8 years old when God called Him. In fact, the younger we can, the better!
God reminds us constantly not to focus on the things of the world but to focus on Him. "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2. "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." What does it mean for our life to be hidden with Christ? I think it means that we are no longer competing with others in this world for the things that they strive for, but rather we are content to let our lives be completely tucked away in God's purposes. Col. 3: 2-3. "You must therefore endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier." 2 Tim 2:3-4.
This is the hard part; this is where we are unwilling to give things up and make sacrifices. But that is because we come with the preconception that we must have these things that we cling on so hard to, in order to be happy. Lord, if you take away these things from me, how am I ever going to be happy? But that is exactly the notion that God wants to get rid of, and that is where we must take the step of faith. That is where we must surrender all, put ourselves in the Hand of God and trust that He will make us happy. Much more than that, He will give us joy. The Lord has a much better way in store for us- come to Me, and I will show you what is the meaning of true joy, free from all the trappings of the world, a joy that is higher and deeper than any happiness you can find on earth. You may not be used to it, but when you have received it, you will love it. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:11.
This does not mean, as some people may think, that we will become hermits. This does not mean that God will not take care of our needs on earth, or deny us all earthly pleasures. Not at all. Why God wants us to come to Him in this way is because He wants us to get our priorities right. As long as we are looking in the wrong place and seeking the wrong things, we will never be fully happy, we will never find the joy we were intended to have. And we will never discover our eternal purpose of serving our eternal God, which is a terrible, terrible waste. Once we recognize God as our ultimate purpose and choose to serve Him in our lives, we will find that He blesses His servants in many wonderful ways, some earthly, others intangible. But by that time these things will not matter so much anymore- what would really matter to us, and bring us the greatest joy, is serving the Lord Himself. What a great honour!
Let's be honest with ourselves and ask ourselves, whom or what we are really serving in our lives. It is easy to say on the outside that we are serving the Lord while on the inside our hearts are still yearning for the things of the world. Do not be ashamed of it, for we all struggle to let go in this aspect. "He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." 1 Thess. 5:24
In conclusion, let me share with you an excerpt from a poem that I find exceedingly meaningful-
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing I asked for -- but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men the most richly blessed.
