A PAPER
PRESENTED BY ELECHI UDOCHI ALEGUA
DURING
2016 ISIOKPO
ARCHDEACONRY YOUTH CONVENTION BILLED FOR SAT. 20TH FEB. 2016
Introduction:
Current
research reveals that we are realistically in danger of not passing on biblical
Christianity to the next generation. Both an overexposure to worldly philosophy
and an over dependence on church programs have caused us to fail in our task to
hand off a vibrant, kingdom-focused faith to the coming generation. Statistically we know that the longer a person goes without accepting
Christ the less likely they are to find Him ... the patterns of our life are
set down in our youth. How important it
is then to remember God in our youth!
But as it’s especially in our youth that we are most inclined
(determined?) to forget our Creator, it’s especially in these years that we
must work to remember our Creator (Ecc.12:1). Remember: that He made you, that
He provides for you, that He cares for you, that
He watches you, that He controls you; and remember that He can save you too.
That’s a lot to remember, but it’s much easier to start memorizing when we
are young!
NOTE:
ü
85% percent
of youth from Christian homes attending public schools do not hold a biblical
worldview.
ü
About eight
million twenty five who were active churchgoers as teenagers will no longer
be active in church by their thirtieth birthdays. Are you not worried?
An extensive research on the religious lives of teenagers to date,
found:
ü
The majority
of teenagers are incredibly inarticulate about their faith and its meaning in
their lives. They find it almost impossible to put basic beliefs into words.
ü
Teens are
“functional deists”—they believe God exists, created the world, and set life in
motion, but that He only becomes involved with them personally to make their
lives happier or to solve problems.
ü
Many youths reject
the essential doctrine of salvation by grace; three out of five believe people
can earn a place in heaven if they are generally good, or do enough good things
for others.
ü
When
deciding right from wrong in difficult situations, only 31% of youths turned to
God or the Scriptures. Almost an identical percent decided based on whether it
made them feel happy or helped them get ahead in life.
Are you not worried?
Picture Of Diminishing Capacities As We Age!
·
Poor eyesight
·
Weakness
·
Hearing problems
·
Sleep problems
·
Graying hair and decreasing muscle tone
·
Endurance decreasing
·
Greater effort at doing little things
Why then should we make most use
of our youthful AGE:
1.
Energetic years
The youthful age is our most energetic years.
Why wait until we are pegging out, until we are running down,
until our gas is almost empty, before serving our Creator? The God who made us
deserves our most active and healthy years: our bodies are strong and muscular,
our minds are sharp and clear, our senses are receptive, keen and sensitive,
our enthusiasm is bright and abundant, our wills are steely (tough, rugged) and
determined. Remember Him during these energetic years.
2.
Sensitive years
The youthful years are sensitive years. Without mixing words, we
can say that it’s “easier” to believe
and repent when we are younger. It’s never easy, but it is easier. And it’s
easier because as we get older our heart is hardened thicker, our conscience is
seared number, our sins root deeper and deeper, our deadness
becomes deader even as the years run by. Let us use our youthful “sensitivity”
and “receptivity”
to remember our Creator before the evil days of callous (cold hearted,
heartless) indifference set in.
3.
Teachable years
We learn more in our youth than in any other period of life. That
is true in all subjects, but especially true in religious instruction. All the Christians I’ve met who were
converted to Christ late in life have expressed huge regrets about how little
they know and how little they can now learn. I encourage them to value and use
whatever time the Lord gives them, but they often feel they have to study twice
as hard to learn half as well. But, the reverse is the case for someone
who began early. Now consider most of our ministers, the vibrant once are the
once that encountered Christ at a tender age.
4.
Dangerous years
Young years are minefield years: hormones, peer pressure, alcohol,
drugs, pornography, immorality, testosterone, etc. Few navigate these years
without blowing up here and there. Dangers abound on every side – and on the
inside. How many “first” temptations become “last” temptations! How much we
need our Creator to keep us and carry us through this battlefield.
Most Excuses Given by Youths
a.
The task of
serving God is demanding.
b.
My talent is
inadequate:
"But I protested, ‘Oh no, Lord, GOD! Look, I don't know how
to speak since I am only a youth'" (Jer. 1:6).
c.
The time is
not right
Jeremiah said to God, "I am only a youth" (Jer. 1:6).
d.
Do I have to
go now?
God was expecting immediate action from Jeremiah. God said,
"Now, get ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command
you" (Jer. 1:17).
How
to Make Most Use of Your Youthful Age:
Let me then give you some helps on how to make good use of your creator
during these best of years (and probably “worst” of years):
Ø
Be persuaded
that you have a Creator:
Get well grounded in a literal
understanding of creation principles and shun all evolutionary influences.
Ø
Get to know
your Creator:
Study His Word using sermons,
commentaries, and good books
Ø
Join with
your Creator’s friends:
Build friendships with other
creatures that love to remember and respect their Creator.
Ø
Follow your
Creator’s order:
He set and gave the pattern of
six days work followed by one day of rest for contemplation of His Works.
He has an order, follow His order.
Ø
Ask for your
Creator’s salvation:
Even if your rejection of your
Creator has broken you in pieces, He’s willing to re-create you in
His image.
Conclusion:
Every house has a foundation, without one it
could not be stable or stay standing for long.
It will have to stand against storms, earthquakes, weathering. Etc. The better the foundation, the more durable
the house, the same is true in life, if we establish an early foundation based
on a relationship with God we will more easily endure the storms of life. The patterns of our life are set in youth, so
set them in Christ! This is what it
means to “REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR IN THE
DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH!”