Young People’s Blog

Paradise

I am in Nassau, Bahamas today. The weather is great, not too hot, a nice ocean breeze, and sun shining down on what the advertisements call “a tropical paradise.” However, the truth of the matter is, while it may be tropical, it is far from paradise. Gang violence has increased, drugs and murders are rampant, and my room at night has burglar-bars on the window. There is no paradise this side of heaven! The word paradise appears three times in our English Bible.

First, in connection with the repentant thief on the cross. “Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Second, with regard to the Apostle’s Paul’s experience: “He was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Corinthians 12:4).

Third, concerning the overcomer during the millennium: “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7).

The enjoyment of paradise is yet future, not here in this world so marred by sin and sorrow.

Dear Young Christian:

Did you attend some Bible meetings this past weekend? If so, remember, it is not enough to hear the Word of God ministered and explained, but we must take what we have heard and put it into practice. Otherwise, we are like the person described in the book of James: “For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was” (James 1:23-24).

Someone has well said, “Too many Christians mark their Bibles, but their Bibles never mark them!” The mark of a spiritual person is that they not only hear the Word of God, but they do it. They are marked by obedience, and their life is governed by the precepts and principles of Scripture.

As we start out this week, let’s remember what we have heard this past weekend, and let’s pray the prayer of David, “Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God” (Psalm 143:10).

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you.

Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Three Facts

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Three glorious facts concerning the work of Christ:

1. He died:

“And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8).

2. He was buried:

“He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth” (Isaiah 53:9).

3. He rose again:

“Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25).

Trace through the Scriptures and you will see these three precious truths confirmed over and over again. The death, the burial, and the resurrection of Christ has been established beyond a shadow of a doubt. Worship and praise Him today for that wonderful work!

reparation

On the January page of a calendar hanging in our kitchen, there is a quote by American author, H. Jackson Brown Jr. This is what it says:

“The best preparation for tomorrow
is doing your best today.”

While this may be true in certain aspects of practical life, such as school, work, etc., yet, when it comes to eternity and where you will be in the next life, nothing could be farther from the truth. We are certainly told to make preparation for the future, and the Bible plainly states, “Prepare to meet thy God” (Amos 4:12). We do well to raise the question, “How then do we prepare?”

Here are some verses that answer that question:

“Look unto Me, and be ye saved” (Isaiah 45:22).

“Repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Have you made preparation for tomorrow? Are you ready if called today to leave this world for the next?

The Right Way

“The Lord God … led me in the right way”(Genesis 24:48).

“He led them forth by the right way” (Psalm 107:7).

“I have led thee in right paths” (Proverbs 4:11).

When we allow the Lord to lead, and follow that leading, then we can rest assured it is indeed “the right way.” It may not be the easiest way, and it may seem strange or even unjust, but it will be “the right way.” We may not understand why He has brought us this way and that, and why we have to stop here and there, and come to this place and that place, but it will be “the right way.”

Someday, when we are with the Lord in heaven, we will look back in retrospect and realize that it was “the right way.” We will also realize that when we chose our own way it was not for our good, and only caused us needless frustration and sorrow.

Let’s not be like those of whom it says, “Which have forsaken the right way” (2 Peter 2:15).

Let’s be like David, who prayed, “Lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:24).

Psalm 23 — Part 1

“A Psalm of David” (Title).

When reading the Psalms, it is important to realize that the titles of these Psalms were not added by the translators, but are part of the original manuscripts. Therefore, we conclude that they are part of the inspired word of God and worthy of consideration. The titles, which many of the psalms bear, often give us the author’s name and introduce the subject of the inspired writer. As we consider this Psalm, it is instructive to notice the author. David was one who in his younger days was a shepherd boy, and of whom his father, Jesse, could say, “Behold, he keepeth the sheep” (1 Samuel 16:11). What better person to write about the Lord as the Shepherd than one who understood what it was to care for, feed, water, lead, and protect a flock of sheep for his father.

This Psalm opens up to us abundant and endless thoughts and comforts of the Lord Jesus, who said,“I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep … . I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine” (John 10:11, 14). It is a psalm that is intensely personal, as is the care of the shepherd for each of his sheep individually.

A Small Miracle

The following is a note from one of our readers:

We recently experienced a small miracle at our house. Here is what happened:

We went to a Bible conference for the weekend, and, on our return, we were expecting company for lunch on Monday noon. Monday came, but with a slight disaster — the refrigerator quit. Mom called our good neighbor Jennifer, to see if we could borrow her large chest-cooler. Hearing about the fridge problem, Jennifer said, “Listen! My sister Gretchen just got a new fridge and stove set. The old one still works, and in fact we’re going over there tonight to get it. My husband said not to throw it out in case we, or you, need it. So, we’ll go and get it whenever you want!”

Jennifer and her husband went to Gretchen’s and brought over the fridge. We used it and entertained our guest successfully. It is still working, and we’ve used it ever since. It made me think of the verse: “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

Yes, the Lord is always doing small miracles in our lives!

Planning

“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

This is a good verse to keep in mind when you are planning your schooling, your career, your marriage, where you live, and every other aspect of your Christian life. The Lord expects you to use the brain He has given you. He expects you to use common sense and to plan ahead a certain amount.

However, you must let the Lord guide you through the doors that He opens up. Don’t leave Him out of your plans. Here is how James puts it: “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:13-15).

Make your plans according to the Lord’s direction through the reading of His Word, the Bible, and prayer. And make sure you always say, “If the Lord will.”

Dear Young Christian:

As another week of operation in this world starts, let’s consider the following verse:“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work” (Titus 3:1).

Subjection to authority is one of God’s principles and the mark of a Christian. God has placed in positions of power those that He wants there — whether we like them or not. Therefore, we need to obey them, provided that what they require doesn’t go against the Word of God.

Many of my readers live in a democratic society where demonstrations and protest marches are commonplace. Let’s be careful that we maintain a spirit of subjection to our leaders. Don’t be caught up with the spirit of the age, which is unequivocally rebellion against every level of authority. “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil” (Romans 13:3). You will never “be ready to every good work” if you are not subject to the authority God has instituted for the blessing, order, and safety of society.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you.

Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Our Look of Faith

Today our look of faith should be directed in four different directions.

First:

We look back to the cross to remember that mighty work that the Lord Jesus did for the glory of God and our eternal blessing. “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14).

Second:

We look up into heaven to see Him where He is now. “We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Hebrews 2:9).

Third:

We see Him in the midst of those gathered to His name. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).

Fourth:

We look ahead to His soon return. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).