Young People’s Blog

“Above all things have fervent charity [warm love] among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

We all appreciate being loved, and we know how easy it is to forgive those whom we really love, even if they have done something wrong. Our love covers a lot of sins that they might do! Does this mean that we dishonor the Lord by passing over something that is sinful? No, it does not mean that; rather, it means that we do not get upset and make a big fuss about some little thing that has been done to us. If someone does something that really dishonors the Lord, we need to try and help that person to confess the sin, and get right with the Lord. But if we are upset mostly because we were insulted or irritated, many times we can forget it. That is why it says that love covers “the multitude” of sins; it does not say “all sins.”

It is good to be the kind of Christian who readily forgives someone else, and thus covers sins instead of “making a big thing” of them.

“Whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation” (Hebrews 13:7).

 Here are a few more verses from C. T. Studd’s poem:

When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me, Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true whate’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes, only one,
Now let me say, “Thy will be done;”
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “ ’twas worth it all;”
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

 In the introduction to this calendar, I said there would not be much poetry. Today we will make an exception. Here are some verses from C. T. Studd’s poem:

Two little lines I heard one day
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes, only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His judgment seat;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

“Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Revelation 22:12).

Back in the year 1885, there were seven Christian young men at Cambridge University in England. All were good students, and some of them were good athletes too. They came from wealthy homes, and had a wonderful future ahead of them in this world. But all seven decided to give up their wealth and the good lifestyle they might have had. They went out to China to become missionaries, to carry the good news of the gospel to those who had never heard it before.

One of these young men was named Charles T. Studd, who was probably the best known of the seven men, and who was also a champion cricket player. At some point in his life he wrote a very good poem, which many people still quote today. The last lines of each verse are:

 Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

 Only what’s done for Christ will last.

This poem has been an encouragement and an inspiration to many Christians. What will you do with your life?

“I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God” (John 20:17).

These wonderful words were spoken to Mary Magdalene, when the Lord Jesus was risen from the dead. She wanted to go back to the same relationship with Him that she had before He went to the cross, but the Lord Jesus had something better to tell her. Not only was He risen, but He was going back to His Father. From that time on, believers would know Him only by faith, but they would be brought into the relationship with God as their Father — something they had never known before. They would also know the Lord Jesus in a closer and more intimate way than if He remained here on earth, for the Holy Spirit would come down and indwell each believer. The Holy Spirit would bring back to their memory the things the Lord Jesus had said to them, and He would also reveal to them things they had not yet heard. You and I live in a wonderful time in this world’s history, for we can enjoy all this!

“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity (love), peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).

When we are young and full of ambition and energy, it is easy to want many things. The Bible calls these things “youthful lusts,” which simply means the things of this world that we would like to have. Sometimes there is nothing bad about those things, such as a car, a boat, a piece of property, nice clothes, and perhaps other things. Youthful lusts might even include activities like playing sports or traveling. A Christian might do all of these things, but if they are “what we live for,” then we need to “flee” them. If the things of this world fill our hearts, Christ will be forced out, and we will become spiritually poor.

On the other hand, if we follow Christ and look after His interests in this world, we can use all of the things listed above to serve the Lord and be a help to others. But they will not be “what we live for,” and if the Lord does not give them to us, we will not be upset. We must leave all of these things behind when we leave this world, but we can use the things we have down here to lay up treasure in heaven.

“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who…will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

Many years ago, there was a boy in New York City, in the U.S.A., named Lou Gehrig, who grew up to be a famous baseball player, back in the 1920’s and 1930’s. As a boy, he loved to play baseball with bigger boys, and used to carry their equipment for them. One day one of the big boys remarked, “These bats are getting pretty dirty!” Without asking anyone, Lou Gehrig took the bats home and washed them thoroughly in a washtub of soapy water. When he brought them back and the boys tried to hit the ball, it just slid off the bat because the wood was soaking wet. All the big boys were angry. “Some dope has washed them,” one boy said.

But one of them comforted poor Lou Gehrig, and said, “You wanted to do the right thing!” The Lord also will reward us if we do something because we love Him, although we may not know enough to do it according to His Word. The Lord can reward us for having a right desire in our hearts, even if we do something in the wrong way. But it is better to know His Word, and to do it right.

“And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully” (2 Timothy 2:5).

Ben Johnson, a Canadian athlete, was a fast runner, and he competed in the Olympic games several times. On September 24, 1988 he set a world record in the 100-meter dash at the Seoul, Korea summer Olympics, and won a gold medal. But only a few days later he was found to have taken drugs to help him run faster. As a result, he was disqualified and lost his gold medal.

When we work for the Lord, He expects us to do His work in the right way, according to His Word. In a coming day He will give out rewards for our work for Him, but He cannot reward us if we deliberately and willfully do something that is contrary to His Word. Just as in natural things in this world, we must follow the Lord’s guidance in His Word when we do anything for Him.

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3).

When I was younger and we used to go “wilderness camping,” we slept in tents, using sleeping bags. We used to endure hardness by placing our sleeping bags on the floor of the tent without any padding under them. The ground was hard, and sometimes a small root would poke into us in the night. But anyone who used padding was considered a “wimp.” I have to admit that we took a certain amount of pride in enduring hardness. But it lasted only a week, and then we were back in our normal beds.

If we wish to work for the Lord, it may mean enduring hardness sometimes. We may have to endure physical discomfort, such as a hard bed or different food. But it can mean more than that; it can mean coping with difficult people, a different culture, sometimes going without certain things that we really like. But it is all part of being a good soldier for Christ!

Even today, soldiers sometimes have to put up with harsh conditions, yet it is all necessary in order to serve their country. It may be necessary for us if we wish to serve the Lord!

“As unknown, and yet well known” (2 Corinthians 6:9).

The Apostle Paul was a well-educated man, and could have been very important in this world. Yet as an apostle for Christ, he was both “unknown and yet well known.” What does this mean? It means that as to this world, he was unknown. If you study the history of the Roman Empire, you will read of men like Sulla, Julius Caesar, Pompey, Caesar Augustus, and many others, but not the Apostle Paul. He was unknown among the important people in the world in that day.

And yet he was well known, for among Christians he is recognized as possibly the greatest servant the Lord ever had. Also, while leading men in the Roman Empire are often forgotten, the inspired writings of the Apostle Paul are still widely read today, as part of the Word of God.

Some years ago, while visiting in England, I went to a large cemetery, and there I saw a tombstone with the same words on it — “As unknown and well known.” The man who was buried there is not prominent in British history, but his name is well known among many Christians. Are you and I striving to be well known in this world, or well known by the Lord?