Teenagers who embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ are likely to see a few leaders of the faith take a tumble as they attempt to stick to the narrow path Jesus has called us to walk. But that doesn’t mean Christianity offers a defunct promise or message. In fact, the Christian faith holds strong to the belief that when we rely on our own understanding and power, we are destined to fall.
In Matthew 19:26 (NIV) Jesus explains to His disciples that salvation is not possible through man’s own power and understanding: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Jesus was letting the disciples know that failure, backsliding, and outright defiance of faith comes from the efforts of man to rely on his own understanding rather than the acumen of God. Wisdom, salvation, and righteousness come from the architect of all three elements of faith. And when we leave the supernatural will to walk upright in a fallen world to the Lamb of God, we have a spiritual power that defies understanding and worldly definition.
The Sunday school teacher who suffers a weak moment in his marriage does not discredit the teachings of the Bible.
The minister who has checked himself into a drug rehabilitation clinic should still be considered a representative example of what the faith of Christ leads to.
Fallen practitioners of the Christian faith cannot, and will not pervert, distort, or belittle the Gospel of Jesus Christ because the Lamb of God was sent to make the impossible possible, and the unthinkable a reality encompassed in extraordinary circumstances and sacrifice.
Teenagers must realize that the enemy of salvation, Satan, will stop at nothing to discredit the Author of Forgiveness as His message is made know to the world. Evil will only stand a chance at its objective when the gospel of truth is sidetracked by ambiguity, misunderstanding, and a failure to offer forgiveness to leaders who have been led astray by the prince of darkness and betrayal.
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Dan, I was getting ready to call it a night, then I saw you had posted this article. I agree with everything you say here, and I think you wrote it at a good time. God is an on time God, therefore, He inspires His writers to write on topics when the timing is best. I am glad you have pointed out the failures of humans do not negate the Word of God. If a person is led to Christ by someone who later fails, that person is still just as saved, for it is God who does the saving, not us. We are only instruments of His to be used for His glory. All the successes are His, all the failures are ours. Thanks for sharing. Thomas
