Young People’s Blog

“For the invisible things of Him [God] from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

Down through the ages of man’s history in this world, and even today, there are people who have never seen a Bible or had someone tell them about God. They do not know who the Lord Jesus is, nor do they know God’s way of salvation.

However, according to our verse today, they ought to realize that there is a God, simply from looking at creation. The vastness of the universe, or the amazing instincts of wild animals—all tell us that there must be a God who created it all. How do some birds know to fly south in the winter, while others stay around and live through the cold weather? Who gave eagles and hawks eyes that can see a mouse more than a kilometer (close to a mile) away? Only God could do that.

Of course, the witness of creation does not tell us about the heart of God. However, it tells us about His power, and then man ought to realize that he too has been created by God. But unlike the animal creation, man has a God-conscious part to his nature—a spirit. He also has a conscience that tells him that there is a God—a God to whom he is responsible for his conduct. As our verse says, no one in this world has an excuse for refusing to believe that there is a God.

“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation unto every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16).

When I was a boy, I remember an occasion when my father’s boss bought a new car. It was an expensive car, for he was a wealthy man. However, within a day or two, the car would not start, and it had to be towed back to the dealer for repairs. The dealer was very embarrassed and ashamed about this, and apologized to my dad’s boss several times. They also gave him a nice replacement car while the first one was being repaired.

However, we never need to be embarrassed or ashamed of the gospel of Christ. It always does what God says it will do! It is always the power of God unto salvation, for anyone who believes. I have never yet met a Christian who said to me, “I am sorry I accepted Christ as my Savior; it wasn’t worth it!” No, you will never find a believer who will talk like that, for God always hears and always answers a sinner who calls on Him.

Referring to cars, I have met many people who were dissatisfied after buying a particular make of car, and they wish they had never bought it, because they had so much trouble with it. But those who trust in Christ will never be disappointed!

“But Naaman was wroth [angry], and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper” (2 Kings 5:11).

Probably most of you know the story of Naaman, the captain of the army of Syria, who had leprosy. A young girl who had been taken captive from the land of Israel, and who worked for Naaman’s wife, told Naaman’s wife about the prophet Elisha. She told her that Elisha would be able to cure Naaman of his leprosy.

But when he went to Elisha to be cured, Naaman had his own ideas about how he should be cured. When Elisha did not even come out to meet him, but simply sent a message to him, to go and wash seven times in the River Jordan, Naaman was very angry. He was an important man, and expected to be treated with more respect! Also, he did not want to go and dip in the Jordan river. He thought the rivers in Syria were better!

This is often the case with people who want to be saved. Many will recognize that they are sinners, but have their own thoughts about how God should save them. They want to maintain some bit of pride and respectability before God. But when we come to God, we must take the low place, as those who are not only sinners, but helpless sinners. Naaman needed to learn this about his leprosy, which is a picture of sin.

If we read the whole story, we find that Naaman eventually did go and dip seven times in the Jordan river, and was cured of his leprosy. But he had to humble himself, and do as the prophet told him.

“So we went toward Rome. And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us…whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage” (Acts 28:14-15).

Before Paul was ever placed on a ship bound for Rome, the Lord had appeared to him and told him that he would reach Rome, and witness for Him there. However, Paul had to pass through many hardships in order to get to Italy, nor did he know for sure how his trial before Caesar would go. As any other man would be, he was probably somewhat concerned, although he trusted in the Lord.

It was surely a real cheer to him to find brethren in Christ at various points along the way, who took the trouble to come and meet up with him, and to encourage him. As a result, Paul “thanked God, and took courage.” Sometimes we do not realize how much meeting up with other believers encourages them, even though we may not say much. Whether these brethren said much to Paul is not recorded in Scripture, but the very fact that they took the trouble to come and meet him meant a lot to him. He was encouraged as he journeyed toward Rome, for much of his time along the way had to be spent in the company of unbelievers. But the Lord knew that His servant needed encouragement, and graciously provided it for him.

We too can be a help and an encouragement to other believers in this world, and especially those who may be in difficulty, or those who are being persecuted. Sometimes a short message can mean much to those in this kind of trouble, and particularly for them to know that we are praying for them.

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

This is a very short verse in the Word of God, yet full of meaning for us. But just what does it mean? In Matthew 6:7, the Lord Jesus warned the people that when they prayed, they were to not to use “vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” The Lord does not mean us to be like that, and to use empty repetitions.

I would suggest that today’s verse means that we are always to be in an attitude of prayer, and ready to lift up our hearts to the Lord, whether in thankfulness, praise, or in bringing a need before the Lord. We are not to allow anything in our life that would keep us from instant prayer.

Also, we are to be ready to pray until we receive an answer from the Lord. For example, the Apostle Paul prayed three times that a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9) might be taken away from him. But when the Lord showed him that He was not going to take it away, Paul submitted and did not pray any more in that way. On the other hand, I prayed for a good friend for almost 50 years, that he might be saved, because I had the sense in my soul that he would be saved. Eventually he did get saved—a wonderful answer to prayer.

Prayer is a wonderful privilege for every believer! Let us use it constantly, but in the right way.

“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour [take the lead] among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

In our local assemblies, there are those who “take the lead” in ministry and teaching, and who sometimes admonish us. We do not use the word “admonish” much today, but it means to warn, to advise, and sometimes to correct someone. As young people, we may sometimes resent this, and feel that those who take the lead are being too hard on us.

An older brother, now with the Lord, used to remind us that if we really wanted to learn the truth of God, God might test us on that desire by making us learn spiritual things from a brother whom we naturally did not like. This can be a real test, for we do not like to learn things from teachers who “rub us the wrong way.” Even in school and college, we all have had teachers or professors whom we liked, and those whom we did not care for. Sometimes we might even have skipped classes taught by those whom we did not like!

However, in our verse for today, we are told to regard such leaders very highly, “for their work’s sake.” Yes, leaders in the local assembly should strive to make themselves agreeable and easy to get along with, but even if they are not like that, we are to listen to them and give them the respect due to them. They are over us in the Lord, and we can learn from them.

“Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God” (Acts 27:25).

The Apostle Paul had been taken prisoner in Jerusalem, and after two years was being taken to Rome to be tried before Caesar. This meant a long and dangerous boat trip across the Mediterranean Sea. During this time they encountered a terrible storm, and all others on board the ship thought that the ship would sink and that they would all be drowned. But the angel of the Lord spoke to Paul, and told him that while the ship would be seriously damaged, no one’s life would be lost. In spite of the way things looked naturally, Paul believed what God had said, and was able to cheer up everyone else on board. As a result of Paul’s belief in God, it tells us three times in this chapter that others were able to be of “good cheer.”

All of us, as Christians, can be like this in the world. Many people are discouraged as they see the world going downhill in many ways, and you and I have a message of hope for them. Although this world is headed for judgment, God has provided a way that people can be saved, through faith in the Lord Jesus. We too can spread “good cheer” in this world!

“So built we the wall…for the people had a mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6).

This was a difficult time in Israel’s history, for Israel had been carried into captivity about 150 years before. Later the Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem, broken down the wall, set fire to the buildings, and carried away all the wealth. But there were some who had been allowed to come back after being in captivity for 70 years, and they had rebuilt the temple. Some years later Nehemiah was concerned that the wall of Jerusalem was still broken down. He encouraged the people to rebuild it, and we find in our verse today that the work was done because “the people had a mind to work.” Of course they looked to the Lord for protection and help, but they themselves took their responsibility seriously too. As a result the wall was finished, although there were enemies who wanted to stop the work.

This is a good lesson for us too, in both natural and spiritual things. Sadly, there are young people today who do not seem to want to work, even in a natural way. Instead of pursuing their studies or obtaining a job, they tend to drift around, with no real goal before them. This attitude can spill over into our spiritual life too, for if we are lazy in natural things, we will not be diligent in spiritual things either. In the Bible, when God wanted to use someone to serve Him, He picked busy people, not those who were sitting around, and not working.

It is easy to become discouraged in these last days, when the world is in disorder, and when the circumstances around us seem to be turned upside down. It was like that in Nehemiah’s day, but the people felt the call of God, and “had a mind to work.” Let us imitate them!

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept…For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:20,22).

Today is the Lord’s Day—the day on which our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead. He has truly become “the firstfruits of them that slept.” What does this mean? It means that since Christ rose from the dead, and is up there in heaven—in glory, every true believer in Christ will also rise from the dead when the Lord Jesus comes back to take His own people home to be with Him. He was the first one to rise from among the dead, but because of His resurrection power, every other true believer who has died in Christ will rise too. What a wonderful truth this is!

As children of Adam, we are all subject to death, sooner or later, but because of the resurrection of Christ, all who believe on Him will be made alive. This is because we are “in Christ”; that is, we have the same life as He has, and are seen before God in all the perfection of Christ Himself. That glorious hope is before us, of being both with Him and like Him, when He comes for us.

“He [Felix] hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him” (Acts 24:26).

We see from this verse how corrupt the Roman world was, for here was a man kept unjustly in prison, while the governor spoke frequently with him, hoping for a bribe, so that he might be set free. But Paul would not do this; he looked to the Lord and depended on Him, not on bribing a Roman official.

Also, this verse shows what was uppermost in the heart of Felix. Instead of speaking with Paul about his soul, he was hoping Paul would give him money, so that he would release him. Poor Felix! He was in the presence of one of the greatest gospel preachers of all time, yet all he could think about was money! Did he ever get saved? We do not know, but if he did, it is not recorded in the Bible. He was removed from being governor after two years, and probably given a position in another locality. We do not hear anything more about him in the Bible. It seems that “a convenient season” never came in Felix’s life.

All this is a solemn lesson for anyone who is not saved. God does not promise us multiple chances to be saved. Felix turned his back on the gospel, and even though he trembled when Paul preached, there is no record that he ever listened seriously again to the Word of God. “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3).