Honestly, one of the verses of the Bible that penetrates my heart is the opening vese of 12 verse 1:
Remember your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say,
‘I find no pleasure in them’
I heard that verse a lot the time during my formative years as a believer. Those days, matured Christian members in church were very intentional about discipling the young ones. There was love, and we felt it. There was accountability, and we faced it. There was And there was real spiritual progress and tangible fellowship growth, and we saw it.
Youthful season is a really challenging season for anyone. It is that season where one’s passion, motivation, and energy tries to find expression in almost uncontrollable ways. It is a time of great conflict – emotional, mental, and spiritual – and identity crises. Left to themselves, young people could self-destruct.
Neglecting the youth, and expecting them to change or catch up on their own is disaster. Some churches, including the one I serve, don't prioritize the spiritual growth, grooming, and grounding of youths. They only make use of their energy and passion during church activities and crusades but avoid the deep conversations that truly build them up.
Just as Brother Eli has said, it is only when we open the eyes of the youth to the realities of God's Kingdom that we can truly see the changes we desire. And not just the change but the hope of a responsible and accountable generation whose hands we can commit the work of God into without fear.
I'm so glad that the Bible does not leave us bereft of good examples, particularly Moses. He chose to identify with, and suffer with God's people at the expense of the luxury and pleasure of ungodly palace of Pharaoh, and “World Power” nationality.
I hope lessons like this are still being taught to our young adults and youths in church, not just in a to-fulfill-all-righteousness kind of approach but intentionally, urgently, and lovingly as Brother Eli has done?
Thank you for reading, and God bless you.