Young People’s Blog

Dear Young Christian,

A friend of mine recently made the comment, “Even though I’m trying to go faster, I keep getting further behind.” It reminded me of an old Amish saying, “The faster I go the behinder I get.” Someone else recently commented, “I’m going as hard as I can, but I’m not sure where it’s getting me.”

I suppose we all feel like this from time to time. We feel a bit like the hamster in its cage, running on its wheel and not getting anywhere. Perhaps this is how the Lord’s disciples felt on the occasion when the Lord said, “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat” (Mark 6:31). Life can get hectic in the rat-race-society in which most of us find ourselves. But perhaps the Lord is encouraging you to slow down a little and take some time with Himself. King David was a busy man, but we read that he took time and, “sat before the Lord” (2 Samuel 7:18). We all need this example!

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

Unsearchable

The dictionary definition of the word “unsearchable” is as follows: “Not capable of being searched or explored…not fully understood…beyond search or investigation… inscrutable.”

Here are 4 things concerning the character and ways of God that we will never be able to fully understand:

His Deeds:

“Unto God would I commit my cause: Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number” (Job 5:8-9).

His Greatness:

“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable” (Psalm 145:3).

His Judgments:

“How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out” (Romans 11:33)!

His Riches:

“The unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8).

We have an awesome God, and though we do not, and never will, fully enter in to who He is, yet today we can “worship Him in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

Freedom

On March 16th, 1985, Terry Anderson, who was the Middle East bureau chief for the Associated Press, was taken hostage by Shiite Hezbollah militants while playing tennis in Beirut, Lebanon. He was eventually released on December 4th, 1991, after 2,455 days of confinement. That month the December 16th issue of Time Magazine carried his picture on the cover with a smile of relief and freedom on his face. He was indeed free at last!

However, there is a far more serious imprisonment that shackles the human race and those who are not saved. Satan holds them in the bondage of sin. The Bible declares, “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins” (Proverbs 5:22).

The good news is that there is freedom and pardon offered by God through His Son. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). Unless we avail ourselves of this offer of freedom, we will be held in the chains of sin and the confines of hell for eternity. Today life and liberty are available through the Great Emancipator, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the work He accomplished at Calvary.

God Said It

“Thy Word is Truth” (John 17:17).

Today this quote caught my eye while thumbing through an old periodical, entitled Christian Truth:

“If I do not believe the Bible till it is sanctioned by some one or something else, I do not believe it at all; rather it is the sanction I believe.”

In other words, I don’t accept the Biblical account just because science and history prove it to be true. While true science and accurate history will never counteract the Bible but always confirm and uphold it, yet I accept it because it is the Word of God.

This is faith! Faith rests on the Word of God without question. If I believe it because someone else proved it, I do not have faith in God but in someone else. This is shaky ground at best since man’s opinions and ideas are more often than not subject to change. Growing up I often heard this quote:

God said it, I believe it, that settles it!

I trust that it settles it for all my readers.

Every Day

“Alway rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10).

I grew up singing the following hymn written by Philip Doddridge (1702-1751).

O happy day that fixed my choice
On Thee, my Savior and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice
And tell its raptures all abroad.

Happy day! happy day!
When Jesus washed my sins away.
He taught me how to watch and pray,
And live rejoicing every day.
Happy day! happy day!
When Jesus washed my sins away.

I hope each of my readers has had that “happy day” when you came to know Jesus as Savior and had the joy of sins forgiven and knowing that you were now saved.

If you have had that wonderful experience then the Lord wants to teach you to “watch and pray, and live rejoicing every day.” It doesn’t mean there won’t be sorrows and tears, but it does mean you can have the joy of the Lord in your heart every day of your Christian life.

Fretting, Fearing, And Fainting

“Fret not” (Psalm 37:1).

“Fear not” (Isaiah 43:5).

“Faint not” (2 Corinthians 4:16).

These exhortations are very real and very practical.

To fret or worry is to not trust the Lord for what is ahead, and to question His wisdom and ability to plan our lives. It is also the result of not understanding His power and the resources that are at our disposal to meet the enemy. It may also be the result of impatience regarding the Lord’s schedule in our life. We are told, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself” (Psalm 37:7).

Fretting leads to fear. Fear of our enemy, Satan, fear of the present circumstances, and fear of the future. It is also the result of a lack of faith in the Lord and not realizing that He holds us in His hands, and is ever ready to help us. “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee” (Isaiah 41:13).

The end result of fretting and fearing is fainting. “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10).This is because we have not relied on the Lord’s power.Our strength is small but His is limitless.

His Love & Care

“He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

The sun was shining on the trees,
There was a gentle southern breeze;
Life was so sweet, my Lord was there,
I knew His gracious love and care.

Then darkness shrouded all around,
I could not see, no light was found;
Yet still my life was sweet and fair,
I knew His gracious love and care.

The road was smooth, then turned so rough,
The circumstances good, then tough:
In either case I could forbear;
I knew His gracious love and care.

And when in heaven I take my seat,
Or fall in worship at His feet,
I’ll understand, with joy declare,
I knew His gracious love and care.

Dear Young Christian,

As I begin writing these calendar pages, I am in South Carolina making plans for a conference in France later in the year. Just before coming here, I was in western Kentucky making plans for a young people’s camp next month. I have booked several flights this week and hope to be here and there for various activities in the next few weeks. Yes, I also expect the Lord to come at any moment, and I love the promise that states, “Behold, I come quickly” (Revelation 3:11).

As this year begins to slip away, one thing is for certain — the coming of the Lord is closer than it has ever been. However, we still need to make plans and live our lives from day to day. We are exhorted, “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13). So as you map out your weeks and years, remember, we need to make plans, but as we do so we need to always keep in mind that those plans may be interrupted at any moment by the Lord’s coming, which will summon us safe home to the Father’s house.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

In The Spirit

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10).

This statement was made by the Apostle John while in exile on the Isle of Patmos. On that particular Lord’s day, also referred to as the “first day of the week” (Acts 20:7), John was in such a state of soul that he could receive a special revelation from the Lord.

We too can have precious thoughts of the Lord’s person and work if we are in such a state. Today we do not receive new revelation like John did, but we can have fresh enjoyment from meditating on the Scriptures, which bring before us our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, in one way or another.

On this Lord’s day let’s be in such an attitude that the Spirit of God can bring before us “the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). This will produce true worship and praise. Then, like John, our hearts will burst forth,

“Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:5-6).

Not Saved

“We are not saved” (Jeremiah 8:20).

I hope, at the beginning of another year, that this statement from the Bible does not apply to any of the readers of this calendar. If it does, please consider carefully the following verses:

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

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

“Now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

“When once the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are” (Luke 13:25).

If you are not saved, don’t put off coming to the Lord and receiving Him as your Savior. Time is short, and eternity is a reality! You may never have opportunity to even turn another calendar page.