THOUGHTS FOR YOUNG ADULTS

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! (Psalm 25:7 ESV)

Physical beauty is fleeting. Physical strength is used up by time. Even the mind of a genius is slowed by age. Yet, in our youth we often carry a false sense of immortality in which we view ourselves as invincible. We demonstrate this by magical thinking (i.e. self-absorbing daydreams & fantasies) and through foolish actions that may injure us or change our lives for the worse in years to come. We blind ourselves to inevitable consequences for a few moments of pleasure. We too quickly reject the traditional beliefs of our parents and the church without really trying to understand them. We reject anything that is not popular or the current fad. Our lives are consumed by sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, jealousy, envy, strife, and drunkenness, which prevent our entrance into the kingdom of heaven. (Galatians 5:19-21 ESV) If we ever, over the years, learn the truth of these matters, the majority of our lives may have passed us by. Perhaps this is best illustrated by the Chinese proverb: “Too soon old; Too late wise.”

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, (Hebrews 9:27 ESV)

These are humbling thoughts which the young, most of all, do not want to hear. However, there is a Day of Judgement. How will you answer for your sins? Although we attempt to suppress the knowledge of our accountability to God, we know that one-day judgment is inevitable. (Romans 1:18 ESV) We will stand before God our Creator and He will execute justice. The witness of our lives will allow no escape by clever justifications and excuses. Every sin will be exposed.

Young man or woman, will you face your God alone? Isaiah broke down when he came face to face with God:

And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5 ESV)

Unfortunately, we can find no hope within ourselves. The source of our salvation is outside of us. We can do all the positive thinking we want and still never enter the kingdom of God. However, God sent us Jesus Christ and whoever believes in Him has eternal life. (1 John 5:11-12 ESV) He freely gives to all who believe in Him the rights of God’s children. (John 1:12 ESV) Jesus saves those who draw near to God through Him. (Hebrews 7:25 ESV) He forgives our sins and cleanses us from unrighteousness.

It is madness to reject so great a salvation. In closing, consider these words from Jonathan Edwards:

God is the highest good of the reasonable creature. The enjoyment of him is our proper; and is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. (Jonathan Edwards, The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 17: Sermons and Discourses, 1730-1733)