Young People’s Blog

Salvation

In the book of Romans we have salvation presented in three different aspects, and in the three tenses in which we operate in the realm of time…past, present, and future.

First of all we read, “Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9). Through the death of Christ and the blood that was shed at Calvary, we have the salvation of our souls. How thankful we should be that we can look back to that great salvation.

Secondly, we are told, “Much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10). This is a present, ongoing salvation. We are saved from hell by His death, but we are preserved in the path of faith by His intercessory life at the right hand of God.

Thirdly, we have that which is yet future. “Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 13:11). This is when the Lord comes and we have full deliverance. At that moment we will have glorified bodies, and be safe home in heaven. The Lord said, “Lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28). For those who are ready it certainly must be soon

Faith

“I believe God” (Acts 27:25).

The above statement is the very essence of faith. To believe God without question is to have complete trust and full faith in one whose Word is sure, whose love is consistent, and whose wisdom is infinite. Probably the best Scriptural definition of faith is found in John’s gospel. “He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true” (John 3:33).

Are you willing to trust God at all times? Solomon said, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). His father David said, “Trust in Him at all times” (Psalm 62:8). The Lord Jesus said to Peter, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22).

How much is it really true in your life and mine? If we learn to trust Him while we are young, we will still be trusting when we are older. Faith is something that does not come easy. It must be tried and proven, and as we put it to the practical test it will grow and give reality and substance to our life. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Home — Part 3

The hope of the Christian is Christ Himself, and Christ as coming for His blood-bought people. Why does the Lord present Himself as the “Bright and Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16)? Every person understands what the morning star is. It is not daylight. You never saw a person wakened in the morning by the morning star! You must get up early to see the morning star, but what wakes people up in the morning is the sunlight — it is daylight.

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19). What you have in this verse is that the hope of the Christian is CHRIST, now known in heaven as the Saviour, and as the One who is coming back for His own people. The Morning Star is Christ for the watching Christian.

We are saved to wait for God’s Son from heaven, and if we are constantly and consciously waiting and watching it will have a practical effect on our lives while we are on our way to that wonderful HOME.

Home — Part 2

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

Every true child of God will be gathered safely home to heaven, but how much better to walk in the path of His choosing than in our own ways. Some might argue that it makes little difference as long as we get to the Father’s house, but this would show an utter indifference to His claims over us. Can it be that, knowing what it cost the Lord to redeem us to Himself, we would not want to please Him in our lives? Then too, there is a day of manifestation coming when God will make known what has been according to His mind, and reward it. Let us seek grace to be faithful to Him. “For we are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthian 6:20).

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope…” (Titus 2:11-13).

Home — Part 1

One of the loveliest things that Jesus told His disciples, was that He was making adequate and abundant provision for their future happiness and security. Believers are assured that after this life they will enter into full possession of the heavenly home specially prepared for them. Much time is spent here on house-hunting. This is an unknown task in glory, where the foundation, the furnishings, and the fellowship are perfect. The Lord’s promise still stands: “In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3).

It will be a momentary journey, a rapid and direct flight like a lightning flash, and we shall be changed and translated, and so be forever with the Lord, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump” (1 Corinthians 15:52). “And so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

Dear Young Christian:

Yesterday’s meditation had to do with the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus at Calvary’s cross. What a sacrifice it was, and what astounding results there have been and will be as a result of the work of atonement fully accomplished there.

As we start this week, let’s think about sacrifice in relationship to our own lives. Paul exhorts us, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:2). Let’s give ourselves in total commitment to the Lord and to our fellow-believer. The Apostle John said, “We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16). Yesterday we considered the first part of that verse, and as we think of Him laying down His life for us, we will be motivated to lay down our lives in love for Him and for His people. It takes real commitment and sacrifice, but remember, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Offering and Sacrifice

“Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God
for a sweetsmelling savour” (Ephesians 5:2).

There are two things, the “offering” and the “sacrifice.” What is the difference if any?

The offering would speak of the what or who is offered, the sacrifice would speak of the cost.

As to the sacrifice of Calvary, the Lord Jesus offered Himself. “Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God” (Hebrews 9:14). To offer one’s self is total commitment. The offering then being Himself, the cost, or sacrifice, was the laying down of His life. “He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16). To lay down one’s life is the ultimate cost.

As we consider that great offering and the sacrifice today, our hearts will overflow with worship and praise, and it will be the springboard for our giving ourselves in service like “Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the Lord” (2 Chronicles 17:16).

Death

“Fear of death” (Hebrews 2:15).

There are many who are afraid to die. Life beyond this world holds no hope for them, and to many the unknown afterlife grips them with absolute terror.

I remember an elderly resident of my hometown who, as he neared the end of this life, filled the hospital ward with shrieks of panic and horror. He had been a good-living, kind, and helpful family and community man, but he knew that was not enough as eternity approached.

In contrast, a day or two later, in that same hospital down the hall, I stood by the bedside of an elderly believer as she gently drew her last breaths, and quietly passed from this life to the next. I knew without a doubt that she was, “absent from the body…present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Centuries ago King David said, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me” (Psalm 23:4). When we know the Lord Jesus as our Saviour we need have no fear of death.

Complaining

“I’m sick of global whining.”

So read the bumper sticker on the car in front of me, and it made me smile. We talk about the “globalization” of everything else, like the economy, travel, government, and so on, but whining and complaining seems to be a global problem too. Everywhere you go, somebody is discontented about something, or someone.

The bumper sticker brought to mind the words of David who said, “That there be no complaining in our streets” (Psalm 144:14). I suppose whining or complaining is the result of discontentment. The Apostle Paul learned the secret of not whining about his circumstances. He said, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11). He also said, “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6).

Are you part of the “global whining” epidemic that seems to have circled the planet? There is a cure, and David gives it to us when he says, “I cried unto the Lord…I poured out my complaint before Him” (Psalm 142:1-2). Instead of complaining to others he took it to the Lord.

Curves

“Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1).

If you were to cross the Nullarbor Plain on the Trans-Australian Railway, you would travel 300 miles without encountering a single curve. It is the longest section of straight railroad track in the world.

However, most of life is not that way: there are many twists, and turns, and curves in the road-of-life. As we mentioned on Monday, we do not know what lies around the next bend, but we can, and should, trust our loving Lord who knows exactly what is ahead. There are no surprises to Him, and He has said, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10).

In the Old Testament the children of Israel didn’t know what was ahead either as they traveled through the wilderness, but we read later that, “He led them forth by the right way: (Psalm 107:7), and He will do the same for us.