If I ever had a message for young people it would be this: Don’t be afraid of remaining pure. You don’t have to get involved in some gross sin to be impressive to God. Those things don’t impress him anyway.
This is not to make those who’ve fallen greatly feel condemned. Jesus Christ can cleanse anything—he’s omnipotent. But you don’t have to fornicate, take drugs, and be delinquent, or any of those things if you don’t want to.
I never did. Never smoked, drank or did dope. Never had sex outside of marriage, never broke the law. It don’t make me no saint. I’ve done plenty of other things. Told lies, held bitterness, sinned through anger. You know all the stuff we think is ‘not quite as bad’. You’ll still be judged for it and wear the same punishment, so don’t be fooled.
Point I’m trying to make is I’ve never been impressive in sin and righteousness doesn’t impress anybody. But that doesn’t make it wrong.
Refusing to go to friend’s parties where you know these things will go on is not a bad thing. I did it. I’m boring, I know, but I did it because I love Jesus and my relationship to him is paramount.
So if you’re a ‘goody-two-shoes’ for Jesus; don’t be concerned with others thoughts about you. They may beat you, spit on you, and call you names but when the chips are down you’ll be the one they come to.
Pray for them in their needs. Be kindly compassionate. But stand your ground. You will be surprised how effective your witness truly is.
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Hi Llewelyn,
Thank you so much for your article!It really does come down to grass roots, doesn't it?
I mean, you don't indulge in any form of immorality, [of which you should feel proud},
yet, you go on to confess your other weaknesses. Are you not justifying the feeling of guilt? Are you not denying your inherent Sainthood?
Don't we all?
This seems to be our problem on the whole.
We may not see ouselves as we truly are, which is Spirit, alive and kicking. No, we like to show the unattractive side of our nature.Hence the guilt. As we all know, deep down, we cannot live up to perfection.
Why should we? It is impossible!
What if I were to tell you that God ACCEPTS us for who we are, at this given time? Do you know,He does not want to change us or our behaviour?
No, he is leaving that up to us!
This is the meaning of Spiritual growth.
We need to learn to love ourselves, unconditionally.
Just as God does.
Love
Veronica
You have some very good advice in this essay. Having teens of my own, I might suggest that you get their attention by showing your message in a story. They may listen to it more. Teens tend to tune out lecturing.
I can tell that you have a heart for young people.
Keep writing.
