Young People’s Blog

“Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH…He shall be a priest upon His throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both” (Zechariah 6:12-13).

This is a wonderful little expression, tucked away here in the book of Zechariah. The man “whose name is The BRANCH” is clearly the Lord Jesus, and these verses are speaking about the time when He will come back to this world to set up His kingdom and reign. But how beautiful it is that the counsel of peace shall be between them both — between God the Father and God the Son.

The word “counsel” means consultation for the exchange of ideas, and how wonderful it is to know that in a past eternity, God the Father and God the Son actually consulted as to peace in this world! This world has seen many wars and many times of trouble, but God has now made a way for true peace to be brought about. It will not happen on this earth until the Lord Jesus has His rightful place, but He has already “made peace by the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20). You and I can enjoy that peace now!

“There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death” (Ecclesiastes 8:8).

This is a very solemn verse, for when we come to die, we have no power to hold onto our spirit, and to keep on living. Back in the year 1603, Queen Elizabeth I of England was dying, and as she grew weaker, she cried out, “All my possessions for a moment of time!” Another man named Colonel Charteris said on his deathbed, “I would gladly give 30,000 pounds (British money) to have it proved to my satisfaction that there is no such place as hell!” (30,000 pounds would be worth more than three million dollars today.)

Neither of these people could hold onto life, when it came time for them to die. But both would have given anything to have more time, or to be sure that there was no hell. How much different it is for those who know the Lord Jesus as Savior! To die means to be “with Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:23).

“Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary [pharmacist] to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly [something stupid or silly] him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour” (Ecclesiastes 10:1).

Today most drug preparations are in jars or tubes, already mixed up, but sometimes the pharmacist has to make up a jar of ointment himself, putting various medicines into it. Usually it is something you rub on your skin. You can imagine how dead flies in it would make a bad smell! You would not want to use that kind of ointment! The Lord says that is like those who have a good reputation, but who suddenly do something wrong. Immediately it spoils everyone’s opinion of them, and all people can think about is the stupid or sinful thing they did.

As Christians, we must be careful how we act, for we can do a hundred things right, but if we do one foolish thing, that is what people seem to remember. It does not take much to spoil the way we appear to this world, so it is important to be on guard, and to avoid doing something that dishonors the Lord.

“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Proverbs 29:1).

When I was a teenager, I often worked for a man for whom my father worked. He was rich and was a good boss, and most of his life had Christians working for him. He knew the gospel, but frequently made fun of it, and did not want to be saved.

One day he went into one of his apartment buildings to check out a problem in the basement, slipped on the stairs and fell, and hit his head on the concrete floor. He never regained consciousness, and died less than two days later. As far as I know, he was one of those who “hardened his neck,” and was “suddenly cut off.” He was only fifty-five years old.

It is a serious thing to harden ourselves against the grace of God. This man had heard the gospel from his Christian employees for about thirty years, but did not want it. Once again, have you accepted the Lord Jesus as your Savior?

“My son, attend unto My wisdom, and bow thine ear to My understanding” (Proverbs 5:1).

“Doth not wisdom cry…she crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city…Unto you, O men, I call…understand wisdom” (Proverbs 8:1,3,4-5).

The first seven chapters of Proverbs almost all begin with the words “my son” or “ye children.” They are addressed to those who come from homes where fathers and mothers give them good instruction, and teach them godly wisdom. If you are growing up in that kind of a home, it is a real privilege, and you should be very thankful for it.

However, the Word of God recognizes that everyone does not have that privilege, and perhaps some of you who read this calendar come from homes like that. In that case, we find in Proverbs 8 that wisdom is made into a person, who cries out to people to come and get what she offers. She is not in the home now, but out at the gate of the city, crying out to whoever will listen. It is really a picture of the Lord Jesus.

If you and I really want to know God, and want to learn what is right, God will make it available to us, even if we do not get it at home. His Word is there for all of us to read.

“The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when He had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that He had, and bought it” (Matthew 13:45-46).

Here we find a merchant man, a picture of the Lord Jesus, who saw you and me (His church), and who valued us so much that He sold all that He had to get us. He gave His life for us! Will He ever sell us? No! That would be impossible. He loves us too much for that.

But remember our verse from yesterday, where we were told to buy the truth, and “sell it not”? Some believers learn a lot of truth, but then decide that it is not worth keeping, so they sell it. That means that they give it up in order to have an easier pathway through this world. I knew a man many years ago who knew the truth of God, but who gave it up because someone offered him a lot of money if he would join a group of Christians who met in an unscriptural way. That man knew better, but he wanted the money, so he gave up the truth.

If you and I have learned any of the truth of God from His Word, let us not sell it. Selling it may give us an easier time in this world, but it will be a loss for all eternity. The Lord Jesus will never sell us; let us not sell the truth.

“Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23).

In this verse we have an unusual expression — “Buy the truth.” Yet if we think about it, we realize that we must pay a price for anything worth having. It may not be a price in money, but perhaps in time and effort. If we really want the truth of God, we will have to buy it. That means spending time in reading and prayer, and listening to others explain the Word of God. Most of all it means knowing the Lord Jesus, who is the truth.

When the Lord Jesus stood before the Roman governor Pilate, He said, “Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice” (John 18:37). Pilate’s reply was, “What is truth?” (v. 38), and then he walked away. He was not interested in knowing the truth.

If you and I as Christians want to know the truth about any moral and spiritual subject, we will find it in Christ, and through His Word. There is a cost involved in buying it, and once we have bought it, we are told not to sell it.

“Those that seek Me early shall find Me” (Proverbs 8:17).

“They shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me” (Proverbs 1:28).

When we first look at these two verses, they seem to say the opposite. But does the Lord contradict Himself? No, so we have to look for the explanation, and it is not hard to find.

The first verse mentioned is talking about those who are young, and who really want wisdom from the Lord. If we really want to know the Lord, and to have wisdom from Him, then we will seek it early (or earnestly). The Lord promises that if we do this, we will find Him and wisdom too.

The second verse we have listed today is talking about those who have had the chance to seek the Lord, but have not paid any attention to His call. In describing such people, the Lord says, “I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded” (Proverbs 1:24). Then later, when they do want to listen, it is too late.

It will be the same with the gospel. Those who do not listen today will try to come later, when the Lord has come, and He will have to say to them, “Depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity” (Luke 13:27). How important it is to get saved now, while you are young!

“Fools make a mock at sin” (Proverbs 14:9).

When we are among unsaved people at school and at work, we will often hear things that are sinful. Sometimes this takes the form of filthy jokes, or jokes that make it sound funny to do something wrong. It can be tempting even to us as Christians to laugh, but the Word of God says only a fool does this.

Many years ago, a Christian man who worked in an automobile factory was surrounded by some of his fellow workers who then told a filthy joke when he could not get away from them. When he did not laugh, they asked him why. His answer was, “Men, I live in the presence of God.” That was a good answer, and the men walked away ashamed. Let us always remember that we too live in the presence of God.

“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts…which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:9-10).

As we remarked yesterday, it is never right for a Christian to want to be rich. The world goes after money and what it can buy, but you and I have spiritual riches that are far more important. During my lifetime I have seen some Christians who wanted to be rich in this world, and they used their time and ability to go after money. Some of them did well, but in most cases their spiritual life suffered. Their minds were on money instead of enjoying Christ, and they often did not stop to think that they must leave all their possessions behind when they leave this world. But spiritual riches will last for all eternity.

What kind of an investment are you and I making? Perhaps at your age you are not thinking of getting rich, but often our course in life is determined when we are young. To work and earn an honest living is good, but to make it your goal to be rich will harm you as a Christian.