Oh, young people, you are assured of your faith, aren’t you? You know in your hearts and minds that you are a child of God. No one could persuade you otherwise. When you pray to God and repent for sins committed, your heart grieves, doesn’t it? And you pray that the Lord will forgive such an unworthy sinner. You ache and sometimes weep. You do this because of faith. That precious knowledge of God and confidence that you are a saved sinner. Find comfort in your sorrow of sin, find strength in God’s grace which He gives so you can walk a life of sanctification.
In times of doubt and temptation when other young people have suggested an evening full of sin, listen to your conscience. What is it telling you? Honor God in all. Hebrews 10:38 and 39 must be our life long confession, “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul”.
You live by that faith which Christ has given, don’t you? You want to obey your parents because you know they have instructed you in the way of the Lord. You seek God-fearing friends. You fight a spiritual war against your own desires and lusts for God’s sake. You are fighting the good fight of faith!
But our nature fights against us, doesn’t it? The devil is always there, as darkness befriends the night, so sin and temptation befriend our human nature. Sin assails us just as the ocean waves pound the sandy shore, constantly trying to draw them into their clutches, to devour them. Beware!
To war against sin is such a battle. We get weary at times, it’s far easier to cave in, collapse and for a moment embrace sin and enjoy deceptive pleasure. To walk hand in hand with Satan, taking the easy road, laughing with him, talking his language, singing his music, what enjoyment for the moment. THROW OFF the DEVIL! Seek Christ, pray earnestly, cry out for His mercy and grace. Be firmly planted in the word of God.
The trials and temptations for you young people are awesome. Be on your guard. Look at everything you do with spiritual eyes and use Scripture to determine right from wrong. Do not live a loose life imitating the world and enjoying its pleasure for a season. Be chaste and believe to the saving of your soul.
Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are he saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”