Age Doesn't Matter

“AGE DOESN’T MATTER”

(Eccleciastes 12:1; I Timothy 4:12; II Timothy 1:5 & I Peter 4:10)

by C. James R. Betia

A message for the Youth Ministry Sunday of

Greenhills Christian Fellowship Sta. Rosa on November 19, 2006.

Introduction

A blessed evening to everyone! I thank God for the opportunity that He gave me to share with you what is closest in my heart- that is the Youth Ministry. I was assigned in the youth in my two former churches. I discipled young people from GCF Batangas and I mentored Youth leaders in a small church in Bulacan. To start up, I want to show you a short video clip showing how short our life is. (Show Life is Short Video Clip Commercial from Xbox, you can download from the net). Indeed, life is short. The wisest king ever lived here on earth wrote, “Remember our Creator in the days of our youth, before the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them.’” Before I continue would you join me in a short prayer?

“Lord, I pray that You would speak to each one of us. I pray that Your words would accomplish what You desire and achieve the purpose for which You sent it. May it be in our hearts a potent seed ready to transform our lives. Lord, we pray that Your message would not only give us information but more so transformation. Be glorified, Oh God! Amen.”

I started serving the Lord when I was in first year high school (age 12). In a small church at Cabuyao. I was the overhead projector operator back then; sometimes I even helped in arranging the chairs. You know, I n my 10 years of ministry, I have seen people who were saved and dedicated their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and are still serving the Lord today. They always tell of their joy in the ministry and I never heard even one of them say, “I wish I have waited until I was older.” On the other hand, I have seen people who were saved in the latter years of their lives and express their regret of not giving their lives to God when they were younger. Most of them say, “I wish I have known the Lord in the early days of my life so that I have more time to serve Him.” As a response to this, I would like to call the young, those who still have the vigor and vitality to SUBMIT to God.

I. A Call to Young Ones to SUBMIT to God (Ecc. 12:1)

Ecclesiastes 12:1 says, “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.’” Let’s focus on the word “REMEMBER.” To remember is not a simple recollection or recall, it has a deeper meaning of obeying and honoring. Actually, the original word means submission. I like the paraphrase of The Message, “Honor and enjoy your Creator while you’re still young…” It has the idea of obedience and submission. Yes, I call the young people to submit to their God. Now notice the description used for God- CREATOR. It reminds us that we are created beings. We are not our own, we are not the boss of our lives. We cannot live our lives apart from the Creator God. Psalm 100:3 captures the whole idea when it says, “Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.” See, the center should be the One who created not the one created. Let’s return to Ecclesiastes. In the DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH. Young ones, rejoice for the Creator God calls you to remember Him and submit to Him… When? RIGHT NOW, when the energy and vigor is still there so as we will not hear ourselves say, “I wish I served the Lord when I was younger.”

Illustration: I knew of a good-looking young boy who attended a Youth Camp. He was 14 years old, starting the High School life. During the camp, there was what they call Talent’s Night wherein the campers are to perform and show his/her talent. His leader asked him what his talent was? The boy doesn’t know how to sing, or dance or play a musical instrument. So he was tasked to carry the “bamboo” that the performers will use for the dance number. The young boy sat on his chair the whole night watching other campers perform. The program ended and the campers went back to their cabins and prepared to sleep. But the young boy can’t sleep. Something is bothering his mind. He was so sad because he didn’t participate in the program. So he went out the cabin and started to cry, he was disappointed about not being able to perform because he don’t know anything to perform. He came to God and said, “Lord, I am very sad because I wasn’t able to offer You a song or a dance or even play an instrument. I just don’t have the talent but Lord, what I have is this life, and this is what I am going to offer You. Would You use it for Your glory?”