The End-time Youths

Being young is a timely gift. However, this gift of being young doesn't endure forever. No one is forever young, notwithstanding the efforts that affluence can assert just to keep up with being young and beautiful. No wonder the popular saying "sweet sixteen", expressing the admiration for being young. Are you a young man or woman, or you are still a teenager, be proud of your youth and (positively) make most of it. Are you already past the ever-clamoured admirable youthful age and looks, cherish the memories of how you spent yours. Oh, yes, you should with thanks to God. 

Now, "why the focus on Youths in this piece?" One may be pondering. Youth, as a stage in the lives of humans is very important as a foundation is to a building. The foundation, determines the structural quality of a building - the length or how many storey buildings it should be, etc. Having good solid foundations, tall buildings and skyscrapers are erected. The same are applicable to human beings. If anyone's youth is poorly developed it goes a long way negatively influencing such person's future and destiny. As a youth, you need an early relationship with God. 

Proverbs 8:17, Says : "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me."

The great man you see today, has done a good background job on himself years earlier. Great destinies aren't attained in a day.They are not by shortcuts. They are not attained by swindling, fraud, robbery, money rituals, prostitution, bribery,and all manner of wickedness. Cheer hard work paves the way to them with God's blessing present.

Proverbs 10:22, says: "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it." 

They are all journeys that began some day with a simple step forward. No wonder it was said that "a journey of thousands miles begins with a step". In my view, a journey of thousands miles begins with not just a step, but a step forward, towards the right direction or destination. Know this, Youthful days are days of labour not pleasures.

Lamentations 3:27, says: "It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth."

As a youth, one is filled with good strength and potentials. When these are wrongly channelled, lead to bad circumstances and occurrences which have some lifelong damaging effects. There are some 'Wh-' questions that every youth should ask and answer himself or herself: "As a youth, who are you? what inspires you? Who is your role model? Whom do you want to become in a particular duration of time, say ten years time? What can you do? What is your goal in life?" And so on.  If you answer these questions sincerely and act, you can't be wasted. It is quite sad, that in this end time, a good population of youths are inspired by what they should actually run away from, even those born into Christian homes. They are inspired by immorality!

Proverbs 14:12, says: "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." 

Ecclesiastes 11:9 -10, Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

Very many lack good moral values. Good moral values have gone abroad and only few are squeaky-clean; these are the spirit-filled believers. To be youth-less is to be useless, to be youthful, is to be useful. When you don't make most of your youth, you are youth-less. When you do make most of your youth, you are youthful. When you are not a productive youth you are youth-less. This is because youths are renowned for exploits! We can see this in the lives of David, who killed Goliath at 17yrs old; Samson, who did a lot of exploits against the Philistines; Joseph at 30yrs old, became second in power over Egypt after Pharaoh; Jesus at 30yrs old started His ministry and completed it at 33yrs old. Know this, God designed youth stage of mankind for exploits - the devil knows this as well.

John 9:4 says : "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." 

The early stage of mankind is his 'day time', his youth. The 'night' is his old age, when strength has left him and he is weak in sight, bones and, memory. A youth must devote his time, energy, and entire life to God - your heart should pant after God. The work of God is more expedient at youth than at old age. 

Ecclesiastes 12:1 says: "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them."

That, notwithstanding, in the youth stage of man lies several weaknesses, loopholes and likelihood to commit errors. God wants you NOW not later, we can see this from the above scriptures. The Scriptures says that the day of salvation is NOW, 2Corinthians 6:2. While I was in the university, I struggled with immorality. I tried on my own with my human strength but failed umpteen times, for "by strength shall no man prevail ", 1Samuel 2:9. There were lots of distractions and as a student, I had all that carnal students could call fun - ranging from good grades (which was basic for all students), fame, parties and orgies, etc but never had a relationship with Him, God Almighty. I refused to mix God with the aforementioned, because a part of me feared Him as I then affirmed. There were those that lived such lifestyle as i did and still attended fellowships but I refused to mock the communion of the saints, the born again Christians - I thought it a terrible thing. 

Galatians 6:7, says: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

 2 Timothy2:19, says: "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 

The devil knows how much important and useful youths can be, that's why He has been so determined on getting hold on them - the much of them he could. He makes them blind in the heart, 2Corinthians 4:4, and put immorality in their hearts in a way that they see nothing wrong with it. Casual or pre-marital sex, orgies and parties, alcoholism, wrong association, pornography they termed 'School life' in Schools - both in the secondary and the universities. The working youths who are through with school are no exception, they say they need to enjoy life before marriage - what a waste. I was there before, until the Holy Spirit convicted me upon my graduation from school, and took me off the miry clay and set my feet upon the solid rock, Jesus Christ. I once was blind, but I see clearly now.

Philipians 3:7-8 &10, says : "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death."

Dear friends, God has designed you to be a soldier this end time, 2 Timothy 2:4. Allow God restore you to His original plans for your life today. No matter how far away you think you have gone from Him, He patiently awaits your return. He still knocks at the door of your heart, Revelations 3:20. Won't you rather open? He changed me and made me what I am today - a soldier. He says "follow me and I will make you..." Matthew 4:19. He loves you no matter what and how you've gone wrong, yes He truly loves you! To serve God is not 'boring' as the devil promised, he has been a liar and never stops to be. In fact, knowing God is the sweetest and best thing that can happen to you. Allow this truth to make you free! Confess your sins to God today and ask for forgiveness and be welcomed into the communion of Saints today. God bless you.

When Headed for Your Destiny

As you journey towards your destiny, the question of "whom to carry along?" Is of utmost importance. Let's use father Abraham, the father of faith; from whom the whole world are blessed as our case study. God called Abram alone but he decided to take his nephew, Lot, alongside him to wherever it was God took him by promise.

Genesis 12:1 says: "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee."

Take a close look at the instructions of God in the above verse again. You will see how God clearly declared that Abram should move away from his "kindred" and not just his father's house and his home country. This must be for a reason, God is wise. Most Bible readers might think that Abram entirely obeyed these instructions of God but we from the above Scriptures, saw that he didn't and this came with its challenges later. We are to obey God entirely each time He instructs us. Abram, was only growing with his walk with God during that time. Again, when Abram went down to Egypt, Sarai took Hagar for a maid. What a wrong company! Sentiments, could prove delirious and make one forget one's vision and destination in life. Probably, Lot was pitied by Abram, and hence Abram took him along. Sarai, after ten years in Egypt, out of her own emotions took Hagar along. Who do you take along with you in the race to your destiny! Know this, when God sends "you" on a mission He has already made perfect provisions for "you", every other arrangements influenced by you such as bringing in whom he hasn't purposed in the mission can prove costly to you.

Isaiah 51:2 says: "Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him."

In the race of your destiny, follow God's instructions strictly. In this race called "Destiny" , everybody is a suspect even your loved ones - Joseph is a typical example, amidst others in the Bible. The Bible made us to understand in Matthew 10:36 and Micah 7:6, that the enemies of a man are the members of his family. 

Micah 7:6 says: "For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house." 

Do not carry "ALL" along. Do not let people know about your plans per time unless the ones necessary and who (through God's grace and revelations to you) can help you in actualisation of the vision. Some people are where they are today in life of regrets, simply because they shared their vision with the vision-killers whom they thought were their friends or family. Please note this, nobody prefers you to himself or herself. This is why jealousy is so common among mankind. It takes a spirit-filled believer to overcome the spirit of jealousy. While making a long trip, it is always better to be light with less loads to be more comfortable. The same is applicable to the journey to destiny. The less people that know your thoughts and plans, the better and  conceivable it gets.

THE DANGERS OF WRONG COMPANY

God always want us to stay away from wrong companies. As wise as King Solomon was, his love for God disappeared when his strange wives had their chance at his old age, notwithstanding his wisdom and years of his walk with God, 1 kings 11:1-40.

Psalms 1:1 says: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." 

2Corinthians 6:14 &17 says: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you".

It might interest you to know that being with the wrong company can make God silent in your life. There are some men of God that lost God's voice and backing because of their companies. The same was seen in the life of Abraham, when his servants and those of his nephew, Lot, were in dispute. 

Genesis 13:14-15 says: "And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward. For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever."

There are people who are where they are today because of their social environment - backing and sponsoring them and are their hope and trust. Permit me to tell you that there are heights you cannot attain in life until certain people around you or lifestyles are ridded. So long as Lot was with Abram, Abram couldn't get these blessings. Who or what are your companies? Companies here aren't just limited to human beings around you - habits, desires, ambition, emotions, etc can all prove to be the things which militate against your breakthroughs and miracles. You have to shed them off. They are the little foxes that spoil the vine, Song of Solomon 2:15. It is my prayer for you that whomever or whatever that is a hindrance to your destiny or breakthroughs is taken away from your life in Jesus name.