YOUTHS - THE HOPE OF JESUS CHRIST

Khai Minthang Samte

MA, MBA Dallas Baptist University

(Came across this article I presented to the Central Church, ZPCS on March 3, 2013)

INTRODUCTION: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen! It is good to be here in the house of God and I am delighted to be here to be willing, able and ready to present this seminar on the topic of "Youths - the hope of Jesus Christ." I give thanks to the Almighty Father for this opportunity and extended my heartfelt thanks to the local church committee for availing this opportunity. In fact I am still a youth like most of you according to the Presbyterian Youth Fellowship's criteria, but I am towards the second half of the criteria. Therefore, we are on the same boat but a little apart on either side of the end. Character of this paper will be based on the Bible while some of them will be personal witnesses and testimonies. There will be also instances of very familiar people whose lives have been told to encourage youths in positive and negative ways, whose lives impacted the youths both in positive and negative ways. In whatever ways or terms we do, we will always try to focus on the youths - who they are, where they are and where God wanted them to be. 

Our title is a very unique in nature and arrangement. It is like a shirt that can be worn inside-out. "Youths - Hope of Jesus Christ" is as much relevant as "Jesus Christ - the hope of the Youths." To some extent it throws clearer meaning, nature, implication and application because with Jesus Christ everything is possible and he is willing, able and ready to help us grow into his likeness as youths. 

DEFINITION: Online dictionary defines youths as "the time of life when one is young; especially: the period between childhood and maturity. The early period of existence, growth, or development. A young person; especially: a young male between adolescence and maturity. Young persons or creatures —usually plural in construction." Most definitions defined youth people group who are between children and adults. Between children and adults could also be taken in terms of age and psychological development. There are some youths who are psychologically mature yet still premature in terms of age, and vice versa. Therefore, balanced growth in age, intellectual quotient, emotional quotient, and spiritual quotient are indispensable aspects of growth and maturity. 

The United Nations put the youths between 15 and 25. In the United States, the beginning of teenage i.e. 13 marked the end of childhood and the beginning of youth, and 21 marked the end of the youth because they are legally entitled to be considered mature citizens. In India education right stated that children under the age of 14 must have free education and child labor right prohibits children from working. The adult franchise gives right to vote to citizens of 18 years and older. Therefore, the ages between 14 and 18 is considered youths according to the Indian constitution. PYF put the youths between 14 and 40. According to the Zou culture and tradition youths are people who are still young and unmarried. Young married couples are also considered youths. Therefore, every nation and country have their own law for the youths and the matured citizens. From a logical point of view he who thinks that he is still young and could perform young people's roles and responsibilities can also be considered youths because we all grow until we die. 

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE YOUTHS: Often times, youths are the reflection of families, churches and communities. They are students who will eventually take up the roles and responsibilities of manhood and womanhood. Therefore, special emphasis is always given to the youths in transition in every culture, nation and country. Youths of today are the pillars of tomorrow. The youths learned by imitation and trial and error method. Families, schools, vocational centers, churches and establishments imparted youths the knowledge and skills necessary for their survival in the next generation in one hand and to be compatible and competitive in the next generation. This is called the man making ministry. Jesus trained the apostles for three years up until he ascended to heaven. Proverb says "Train up a child in the way he should go." (Pro 22:6) This can be taken in a positive and negative way. If we train the youths in evil ways they will end up doing evil and if we train them in good ways they will end up doing what is good. If we don’t train them they will end up being evil because we are born evil and sinful. Therefore, the identity we imparted them is very in human development. 

IDENTITY FORMATION AND COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS: Psychologist invented an analogy called "ITJAR" (Identity, Thinking, Judgment, Action and Result) to determine the cost and effect analysis of human behavior. to look into cost and effect reasoning. They compared this to the iceberg that has 13% of its body above the surface of the sea and the remaining 87% hidden below the surface of the sea. Here, identity effects thinking, thinking effects judgment, judgment effects action and action effects result. The end result of 13% is visible to the outside world. 

The second important factor is the law of attraction in identity formation. This is primarily based on the law of attraction based on compatibility. To further elaborate in the Christian context, identity based on the nature, teaching and character of Satan will end up in satanic result. Likewise, identity based on the nature, teaching and character of Jesus Christ will end up in Christ-like result. Jesus Christ said, "Watch out for false prophets. They came to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (Matthew 7: 15-19) The aforementioned scripture clearly shows how identity affects the end result. In verse 17 Jesus Christ talked about a good tree and a bad one. This is the clearest example of the cost and effect analysis. 

If you based your identity on the cheater mentioned in Genesis 3:4 you will end up cheating, and if you end up cheating you will be cheated. (E.g. Jacob) If you based your identity on the killer mentioned in Job 1:9-19, you will end up killing, and if you end up killing you will be killed.

Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb. 13:8) invites, expects and hopes you to build your identity in him because apart from him we can do nothing. (Jn. 15:5) He said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Heb. 13:5) The Lord wants you to obey his commandments and wants to "make you the head, not the tail… at the top, never at the bottom." (Deut. 28:13) He wants to take you to the road of radiant youth like Joseph; Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; like David and Solomon. 

CASE STUDY ONE: One of the most powerful illustrated youths in the Bible is found in the book of Daniel. They were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who were from:

1) Royal family and nobility,
2) Young men without any physical defects,
3) Handsome, 
4) Showing aptitude for every kind of learning, 
5) Well informed, 
6) Quick to understand, and 
7) Qualified to serve in the king's palace. 

Their names were changed but not their hearts. They were physically, mentally and emotionally fit for the task they were given. Above all these qualifications, they have the best and most profound qualification that the world cannot give - they have spiritual qualification! Their faith and commitment to the omnipotent, the omniscient and the omnipresent God was without compromise. That was their secret wealth, weapon and victory. How many of us compromised our faith and commitment to the omnipotent, the omniscient and the omnipresent God when or after we are faced with such glamour and honor? 

They refused to eat foods offered to idols and prohibited by God and refused to bow down before idols and the gods of the land. By doing so, they knew clearly that they will be put to death, but they did not weaver and compromise their faith in the Lord. Their faiths were tested in the lion's den and in the burning furnace that was put seven times hotter. Their faith prevailed and the God they served never left them nor forsook them. Instead, God was exalted and people all over the land worship the living God while their opponents were banished from the land. 

CASE STUDY TWO: There was a rich young man who met with Jesus that was recorded three times in the Gospel which shows how important the story was. It is found in Matthew 19: 16-22, Mark 10:17-22 and Luke 18: 18-23. There must have been something very attractive about this young man. He was sincere, earnest and eager to do right. Years of seeking truth and striving to do God's will had left a noble mold upon his face. "'All these I have kept,' they young man said. 'What do I still lack?' Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.' Then the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." (Matt. 19: 20-22) It was a wonderful opportunity Jesus Christ offered him. He could have been one of the apostles and could have fellowship with the Son of God and be present at Gethsemane, Calvary, and Olivet and could have been in the upper room at Pentecost. He might even have contributed a book to the New Testament. Today, nobody even knows his name and his possessions vanished with him centuries ago.

WHAT SHALL WE DO NOW?: The apostle Paul advised young Timothy, "Do not let anyone look down because you are young, but set example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." (2 Tim. 4:12) Let us break down the key words:

a) In Speech: The Bible is very strict about our speech. We are told not to gossip because it betrays a confidence and separate close friend. (Pro. 11:13; 16:28) We are rather told to confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord. (Phil 2:11) Jesus Christ said, "What goes into a man's mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth makes him unclean." (Matt. 15:11)

b) In Life: Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace." (Eph. 4: 1-3) Our faith and our life must be consistent. It must not be ones like "Follow my advice and do not follow my lead."

c) In Love: The life and ministry of Jesus Christ is a perfect example of love. It was because of love that he came into the world, lived, died, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Paul's letter to the Corinthians chapter 13 talks about love, and love is the greatest among the three - faith, hope and love. (1 Cor. 13: 13) The Good Samaritan is another example of love and loving our neighbors.

d) In Faith: The book of Hebrews chapter 11 talks about how people of the Bible lived by faith and were being justified by their faith. Jesus Christ healed the sick, the blind, the lame and all sorts of sicknesses. (Matthew 9: 18-22, 29; Luke. 7: 9) Jesus rebuked his disciples because of their little faith. (Luke 8:25) 

e) In Purity: The psalmist said, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word." (Ps. 119: 9) Jesus Christ said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (Matthew 5: 8) There can also be physical purity, sexual purity, emotional purity and spiritual purity. 

DECISION TIME: Ecclesiastic 12: 1 says, "Remember the creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them." It is time to decide for your future here on earth and beyond. It is time to decide for your spouse, profession, career and destiny. If you make the right decision you will benefit from it in the days of your old. If you make the wrong decision you will reap the fruit of your harvest. If you yield a toehold to Satan, he will get his foothold and eventually his stronghold. He will never leave you the same person as you were before. He will leave you with bankruptcy, drug addiction, broken family, AIDS, criminal, etc. and your sins will haunt you day and night. But, Jesus Christ said, "Come now, let us reason together… though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Isa. 1: 18) If you come and start with him he will renew your spirit and you will soar like an eagle. (Isa. 40:31) He is the same yesterday, and today and forever (Heb. 13: 8) and has promised us, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Heb. 13:5) 

CONCLUSION: Every action has cause and effect/consequences. The youths (PYF) are the hope of Jesus Christ and he wants us to be his messenger of hope to the family, church, community and the rest of the world. He is able, willing and ready to help you in your endeavor for him, for yourself, for your family, for your church, for your community and for the rest of the world. He is the rock of ages where we can lean on, build our faith and trust and never weaver. He wants to start with you and build his eternal kingdom in your life and the lives around you. Our days are short and our life here on earth is but a journey. You can create heaven on earth and hell on earth as well. The case studies are based on the Bible and the most vivid example of the good and evil people. We, as youths, are encouraged by the message of Paul to the young Timothy. May God cause his face to shine upon us and bless us in our endeavor! Thank you, Central church Presbyterian Church. Thank you, CCPYF. May God be glorified through this seminar! Amen!

*************************** March 3, 2013 ***************************