To be a youth and be faithful to God is a difficult commandment to carry on. I speak from the prospective of a youth and member of The Church of God. Depending on how much time you have in Christianity and your spiritual knowledge is how you will be able to respond to the worldly temptations. But let us know this, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as in common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
The world is a place full of sin (evil, arrogance, envy, destruction, and hatred). Everything that the world has to offer is momentarily, nothing will last forever; “For the riches are not for ever…” (Proverbs 27:24). Sometimes the attractions of the world are impregnable and we don’t realize it; we take them lightly but those temptations take us more and more apart from God. Let us remember what the word exhorts us, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). Temptations can come in many ways; from a friend who isn’t Christian, worldly music, worldly talk, or through a girlfriend or boyfriend. All of this can have a great power over some if they don’t grasp on to the hands of God. “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Praying and calling unto the almighty God is the only way we can fight against the enemies’ temptations.
The enemy can disguise the temptation in an exclusive form that when it is seen it will not look wrong. Let us recall that the devil was created perfectly when he dwelled in heaven with God, “Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created, till iniquity was found in thee” (Ezekiel 28:15). The enemy knows what attracts us and if he can disguise it, he will do so as long as the servant of God falls. If we pay close attention to the scripture that speaks of King David and Bathsheba, “…In an eveningtide, that David arose from of his bed, and walked upon the roof… from the roof saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon” (2 Samuel 11:2). We can see how temptation came so potent before David that he committed adultery with her. Bathsheba was Urias’ woman, whom he was a great warrior and servant of David. When David saw her he went and asked for her and they told him that she was Urias’ lady, but he did not care and entered inside of her. Temptation will come very strong at times, but what are we going to do? Are we going to lust with temptation or walk away from it? Later the story tells that after committing that sin, the Lord grew angry and when David had a baby it died seven days later, “Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou has despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife” (2 Samuel 12:10). God punished David because he knew what he had done was unpleasant before the Lord. Lets us step away from temptation which will bring consequences; many that fall in temptation lose all the blessings that the Lord has given them. God loves us and wants the best for us, but the enemy will always place traps so Gods’ children can fall; but there is POWER in Jesus Christ and we can defeat the world!! “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phillipians 4:13). His word is promise to us his children, especially for us who belong and are a part in his divine body: “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Ephesians 5:30).
I encourage each of our youthful brethren, adults, and of any age. Let us get closer to God and seek his Holy Spirit. I know it can be difficult to serve the Lord, but I as a youth can confess that one has to leave many things for love of Jesus. But for all of this the Lord will give us the victory and will honor us. When temptation comes and we want to make a decision, let us go to God whom will always guide us. His word has promised us that he will be with us unto the end of the world, “…and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20). Then let us not fear and follow Jesus whom will crown us in heaven and will fill us with his glory and blessings on earth. We will be an example to all those youth that say it is impossible to serve the Lord and that the church is only for the elderly. The Church of God is for ALL ages and we can all be faithful. Lets’ unite as youth and represent Christ in all moments and all times. And that souls can be saved through our testimony. Let’s keep moving forward oh youth that the Lord is with us!
By Irving D. Romano
CA, NV, UT & South ID
Regional Evangelist
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