As a pastor, former teacher, and not so far removed young person myself, I have a burden for the youth of our generation. Youth is a time of great passion and vigor. It is a time of enthusiasm, fun, and exhilaration. Young people thrive on excitement. In our time more than maybe any other there is opportunity for young people to experience thrills and adventures of almost anything you can imagine. They ski, snowboard, mountain bike, motorcycle, hunt cougars, travel the world, scuba dive, jump out of airplanes… you name it they do it.I have to admit I am somewhat of a thrill seeker myself and still at times involve myself in some of these activities, and, to be perfectly honest, would rather see young people do these things than some of the other activities that youth of our day involve themselves in i.e. illicit drugs, sex, movies, parties, and other questionable and outright evil practices that are rampant today.
My burden, however, is that many young people are using these activities as ways to escape the realities of life. It may be pain, bitterness, and rebellion that at times drive them to commit their lives to things that are time-consuming, expensive, and sometimes downright dangerous. I think that sometimes young people feel they need to push the envelope to see just how far they can go in order to somehow experience life to the fullest and create an identity that sets them apart from the status quo. This may be fleshed out by doing things that are life-risking, or by breaking the normal societal rules. The kid who dares to defy the teacher by being bad in class or who gets kicked out of the local MacDonald’s for being obnoxious or who drives at incredible rates of speed is the hero. Young people who push the envelope are admired and followed.
If you are a young person I am not calling you to abstain from all exciting and adrenaline pounding activities in life, but I am challenging you to channel the brunt of that desire for adventure and excitement into something else. Something far more worthwhile than any earthly adventure can ever give. Commit your life to passionately serving the Lord Christ. You want adventure, you got it. Take the Gospel to primitive tribes of heathens in the 10-40 window. Travel to remote parts of the world with relief supplies for people who desperately need them. How about danger? Smuggle Bibles into China or Vietnam, or go to the cities in North America and reach out to the outcasts and the downtrodden. You want to set yourself apart? Stand up for truth and righteousness in the midst of a world that hates righteousness; be a living example to your peers of someone who has a passion to do right. There are many opportunities for you to be used for the Kingdom.
I know you as young people are faced with many issues in our day. Pressure to be attractive and cool, rejection, temptations, strained relations with parents, and/or friends are just a few. My heart goes out to you. I have been there. Many adults see and remember youth as a time of great fun and excitement, but forget that it can also be a time of incredible challenges, confusion, and discouragement. My challenge to you if you are a youth who is in the midst of a struggle – whatever it is – do not allow yourself to be consumed with bitterness, anger, guilt, lust, self-centeredness, hurt, or uncertainty. Turn to God and the Gospel. Let Him purify and sanctify your life. Commit yourself to holiness - not hypocrisy, perfection, or legalism - but a real genuine holiness born out of a desire to magnify Christ because of what He has done for you and because you are in desperate need of His grace every day. Let Him work in your heart, healing and purging the bitterness, rebellion, pride or whatever sin or hurt that is obstructing you.
DO NOT WASTE YOUR YOUTH! If you think that you will wait till you are married and settled down to serve God and live a productive life, then you will waste a time of tremendous potential in your life – a time of financial and societal freedom that allows you to do much more than you can when you have a family. Although I do feel it is important for you to have accountability, be attached to a local church, and have older people speaking into your life, I also think it is a time of tremendous opportunity for you to be proactive in spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom – you are not too young.
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. I Timothy 4:12 (NIV)
A wonderful resource to challenge young people to not waste their youth is the book Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris. I highly recommend it!
