Young People’s Blog

Hope

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

On the 16th of August 1977 the renowned pop singer Elvis Presley collapsed in his villa “Graceland” in Memphis Tennessee, USA. He lost consciousness, and at 42 years of age went from this life into the next.

A newspaper report stated: “Medical help came too late. Elvis’ heart had stopped as a result of excessive use of drugs and medicines. In his latter years he testified that millions of dollars and universal fame do not make one happy. The once vivacious lad from Tennessee had no more to hope for: all his hopes had been fulfilled.”

Had all his hopes really been fulfilled? If so they were only earthly hopes, and like soap bubbles, of no lasting joy or substance. What a sad way to live, and what a solemn way to die.

Thankfully there is hope beyond this life. It is the result of faith in Christ, His salvation, and the assurance of heaven in the next life. “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast” (Hebrews 6:19). Make sure this hope is a reality with you.

He Got The Job

A young man walked from the pier on the Mississippi River directly to the captain’s cabin of a river boat traveling between New Orleans and St. Louis. He was young and filled with confidence. The captain asked what he wanted and the youth replied that was looking for a job as a wheelman.

“What experience have you had on the river?” asked the captain.

“Five years sir.”

“Do you know the location of all the shoals and snags?”

“No sir, but I know where there aren’t any, and that’s where I always try to steer.”

He got the job!

In the Christian life the path of safety is not knowing all the nature of sin or the way of wickedness. It is knowing the will of the Lord and the path of faith He has for us, and in being willing to stay in it. This is what it means when it says, “I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil” (Romans 16:19). The way of safety is nearness to Christ. He says, “With Me thou shalt be in safeguard” (1 Samuel 22:23).

Busy Bees — Part 2

“For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left His house, and gave authority to His servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch” (Mark 13:34).

As we learned yesterday, the honeybee has a very organized infrastructure and systematic regimen for getting things done. When every bee does its job, things run well, and the result is that sweet, nourishing honey is produced.

In a similar way, the Lord has given each member of His church special abilities, gifts, and tasks to do for the good and blessing of each other, and as a testimony to the world. No Christian has been called to merely sit around. Everyone can do something! There was a man in the assembly in Colosse who needed to be stirred up as to this fact. Paul, by inspiration, writes, “And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it” (Colossians 4:17).

Timothy, as a young man, was another one who needed encouragement in this regard. Paul says to him: “Neglect not the gift that is in thee” (1 Timothy 4:14). Let’s each be exercised to do what God has called us to do.

Busy Bees — Part 1

“Behold, there was a swarm of bees” (Judges 14:8).

The honeybee has one of the most highly developed social structures in the animal kingdom. At the heart of the hive, which may house as many as 80,000 bees, is the queen. Each bee has a specialized duty to fulfil.

-The forager bees encounter the perils of the outside

world to collect food.

-The guardbees protect the hive entrance from intruders.

-The undertakers are responsible for removing dead

bodies from the hive.

-The water collectors bring in moisture to regulate humidity.

-The plasterersmake a kind of cement to repair the hive.

-The fanners cool the hive and fan the nectar until it is ready to be stored as honey. They have a gland that releases an odor that helps other bees find their home.

-the scout bees keep the hive alerted to the opportunities and dangers of the outside world.

The variety and specialization of the worker bee seems endless. Tomorrow we will see how we can apply this lesson from nature to ourselves as believers.

The Way

Lot had to choose, and so do we. “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan” (Genesis 13:10-11).

When we have ascended the hill of YOUTH and tried to get a bird’s eye view of the plain called LIFE, we find three main roads that lead to it and through it.

1. The WAY of the WORLD. It offers prospects of wealth, pleasure, and ease. However, the conditions are that we must accept the world’s standards and values, and acknowledge her ruling on all questions of conduct.

2. The WAY of SELF. In this there are no restrictions; unhindered ‘self-expression,’ and every choice and action are dictated by self-interest.

3. The WAY of CHRIST. It may be a difficult path, one of reproach, self-denial and loss. Yet, it is the way of peace and joy; of purpose in life which is really worthwhile; of friendship and a great future reward.

“Therefore choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Dear Young Christian:

I am writing this page from Nassau, Bahamas. For many years I have been able to visit this corner of the Caribbean, and with full permission distribute gospel literature and calendars in the government schools. In this way, thousands of young people over the years have been reached with the gospel, and many homes have had the printed Word, from the literature taken home by the boys and girls.

It is a great thrill to have a little part in this work of the Lord, here in this corner of the Caribbean. This would never be allowed in Canada where I come from, as we have really become godless in the past few years. So we pray that the door of opportunity will remain wide open until the Lord comes, and pray for much blessing. Remember too, that wherever you are today, there are opportunities to serve the Lord and speak for Him. You don’t have to go to the foreign mission field. The word to all of us today, is, “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35). That means, no matter where you are!

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to [email protected]

He Could Not Save Himself

“And they that passed by railed on Him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, Save Thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; Himself He cannot save” (Mark 15:29-31).

There were many things said of the Lord Jesus in mockery that were blessedly true in reality. “He saved others; Himself He cannot save,” is certainly one of these statements. There were at least three reasons why the Lord Jesus could not save Himself and come down from the cross.

1. To fulfill the Old Testament prophecies concerning Himself. “That the scripture might be fulfilled” (John 19:28).

2. To accomplish the Father’s will. “This commandment have I received of My Father” (John 10:18).

3. To have His own with Him forever. “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24).

Their Cell Phone

The day I am writing this calendar page is the day after I viewed a home in northern Saint Vincent West Indies, where a teenager was killed. The youth was about eighteen years of age. Here is how the story was related to me.

It was Christmas Eve, and the rains came so heavy and so fast that it caused great flooding and landslides. As the dirt and rock cascaded down the mountain in the middle of the night a family escaped from their home that was directly in its path. However, the young man realized he did not have his cell phone, and thinking he had enough time to retrieve it went back into the house. The sad result is that he perished in a tangled mass of concrete, corrugated steel, wood, and household items.

“How tragic,” you say. But this incident is symbolic of many who are going into a lost eternity as they seek to hold on to something they consider valuable in this world. The Lord said: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul” (Mark 8:36-37)?

There is nothing in the world worth hanging onto in exchange for eternal salvation and the joy of knowing Christ.

Monthly Question Page

Q. Could you please explain what an apostate is?

A. To apostatize, or become an apostate, is simply to “fall away” or to deliberately give up what a person has once professed. The Bible speaks of it in this way: “The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire” (2 Peter 2:22). Note, both of the animals mentioned were unclean under the Old Testament law. It is not a true believer backsliding and falling into some sin, from which the grace of God can restore them, but a definite giving up of the profession of Christianity. Scripture holds no hope for such. “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:4-6).

Though the word “apostasy” does not occur in the King James Version, the Greek word occurs several times, from which the English word is derived.

Do you have a question? Email us at [email protected]

Enough Evidence

“Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God” (Daniel 6:4-5).

Daniel’s coworkers were jealous of his reputation and testimony. And as to finding something they could accuse him of, their conclusion was about the equivalent of someone saying today: “The only thing we can find against that person is the fact that they are a Christian.”

In this connection I saw a motto on a bulletin board in a home where I was visiting, and it asked the following question:

If you were arrested for being a Christian,

Would there be enough evidence to convict you?

As you go about from day to day are you marked by those who know you as being a follower of Christ? The early believers were. “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26).