Young People’s Blog

Certainty

Sir Ambrose Fleming (1849-1945), a renowned British scientist, said: “We must not build on the sands of an uncertain and ever-changing science, but upon the rock of the inspired Scriptures, which do not comprise the guesses of fallible minds, but the utterances of holy men of God who spoke by the Holy Ghost.”

Here is the witness of some of those “holy men of God” (2 Peter 1:21):

Solomon: “Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth?” (Proverbs 22:20-21).

Luke: “It seemed good to me … to write … that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed” (Luke 1:3-4).

Job: “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” (Job 19:25).

Paul: “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (2 Timothy 1:12).

John: “We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love” (1 John 4:16).

Let Your Light Shine

This month is marked by many of you young people returning to school, starting a new job, or returning to the old routine of life after summer vacation. Many of you will meet new fellow-students and coworkers and find yourselves in new surroundings. Don’t forget to let your light shine for the Lord right away. We are exhorted “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven” (Matthew 5:16). “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).

Letting your light shine right away will preserve you from many embarrassing situations and will keep you from being invited or enticed to take part in things that would not be pleasing to the Lord.

Not only so, but who knows what a blessing your Christian testimony may be? The Lord can use it for the salvation of someone who you study or work with. You may even find that there are other believers who need encouragement and who you can have fellowship with.

The Times

A Tale of Two Cities (1859) is a historical novel by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. I had to read it years ago while taking classical English in high school. It begins with the words, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” In a sense, this aptly describes the days we are living in right now.

On the one hand, it is the best of times because we are at the end of the Christian era, and the Lord Jesus is about to come and call us to be with Himself in the Father’s house. He has promised, “And, behold, I come quickly” (Revelation 22:12). Never have we been closer to the fulfillment of that promise than right now, and meanwhile people are hearing the gospel and getting saved in unusual and wonderful ways.

On the other hand, it is the worst of times. Paul wrote, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” (2 Timothy 3:1). Peter wrote, “Knowing this … that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts” (2 Peter 3:3). The Lord said, “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28). Indeed, the best of times are ahead for the believer.

Dear Young Christian:

While visiting family in Newfoundland this week, I noticed a motto hanging on the wall in my brother-in-law’s store here in York Harbor. Here is what it said:

“Friends make good times better,

and hard times easier.”

This brought to mind the words of the Lord to His disciples, “Ye are My friends” (John 15:14). What a wonderful friend we have in the Lord Jesus! As we go through the good times, we can enjoy them in the company of the One who is always with us. His company certainly makes the good times better. Then when the hard times come, we have the assurance, “There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

This friend will never disappoint us. As we go through the good times and hard times in His company, we will certainly say, like the bride in the Old Testament, “He is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend” (Song of Solomon 5:16).

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

The Resurrection

“He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay” (Matthew 28:6).

The bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus is a vital truth that we need to tenaciously hold onto. “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain … . And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:14, 17).

While we look back today and remember the death and sacrifice of the Lord at Calvary, yet we rejoice to be able to look to an empty tomb as well.

Another wonderful truth is that He not only rose from the dead, but He is now ascended back to Heaven. “The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory … raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:17, 20). “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9).

Today we remember His death on the cross while we worship Him as a living, ascended, glorified Man in Heaven. The resurrection, ascension, and glorification of Christ are God’s Amen to the work of His Son at Calvary.

The Queen

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Hugh Stowell records the following regarding the last hours of Queen Elizabeth I:

In her last illness, after a season of profound despondency … she made signs for the Archbishop of Canterbury and her chaplain to come near to her, whereupon, we are told, the cardinal said to her, “Madame, you ought to hope much in the mercy of God. Your piety, your zeal, and the admirable work of the Reformation, which you have happily established, afford great grounds of consolation for you.”

“My lord,” replied the queen, “the crown which I have borne so long has given enough of vanity in my time. I beseech you not to praise it in this hour, when I am so near my death!”

Here was one who had rejoiced in holding one of the most exalted positions in Europe, surrounded by flatterers innumerable, both civil and religious, yet in view of another world she saw it all as emptiness and vanity. What are you trusting in … is it Christ and His work on the cross?

Monthly Question Page

Q. I hear people say that, as Christians, we should grow spiritually. What does it mean, and how can I do it?

A. Spiritual growth is a lot like physical growth, and it is essential that we eat the right food.

So, we must ask ourselves, what are we feeding our souls on? Are we watching and listening to the things that the world has to offer? If that is our diet, we are not going to grow in the Lord. Jeremiah said: “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart” (Jeremiah 15:16). Job said: “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).

It is good to read Christian books and listen to the Word of God explained orally. But we also need to read the Bible for ourselves and meditate on it. In this way, we will digest what we take in, and this will cause us to grow steadily in the Lord as healthy, happy believers. There is only one food that will properly nourish our souls, and that is the Word of God. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).

Remember, too, that Christian growth takes a lifetime of diligence and experience.

Comfort From the Bible

“This is my comfort in my affliction: for Thy Word hath quickened me” (Psalm 119:50).

During my recent illness, I was not able to read the Bible for myself due to the effects of the painkillers and medications I was taking. From this experience, I learned two things:

First: The importance of memorizing the Word of God and hiding it in our hearts while we are able and of sound mind and body. Like the Psalmist who said, “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart … I will not forget Thy Word” (Psalm 119:11, 16).

Second: I learned what it means when it speaks of the “comfort of the Scriptures” (Romans 15:4). Every portion that someone read to me, every text, email, and card with a verse from the Bible meant a great deal. I had always been the person reading the Bible to someone else who was going through a tough time, but with the role reversed, I realized what power there is in the living Word of God.

Is someone you know sick or going through a difficult time in his or her life? Take some time to sit with them and share some verses and thoughts from God’s living book.

Monthly Scripture Reading
John 16

12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

13 Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.

14 He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.

15 All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.

16 A little while, and ye shall not see Me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see Me, because I go to the Father.

17 Then said some of His disciples among themselves, What is this that He saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?

18 They said therefore, What is this that He saith, A little while? we cannot tell what He saith.

Our Treasure

“Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).

Christ should be our greatest treasure, as the Lord Himself said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).

We live in a world where there are many duties and responsibilities. And, as we get older, those duties and obligations become increasingly greater and more pressing. But, if we have been attracted to the person of Christ in Heaven, we will not be so attracted and attached to things in this world. If “we see Jesus” (Hebrews 2:9), and the glories that radiate from His wonderful person, the things of earth will dim, and our hearts will be wrapped up in Himself and His interests. He, and He alone, will be our one and only treasure.

To gaze by faith on Jesus, this truly brings delight,
And helps to spur us onward,
Amidst this world’s dark night.
To see the Lord in glory, eclipses everything,
And gives fresh grace and courage,
To Him in faith to cling.