“What have you learned?”
As we walk through life it is important that we know & understand that this, this space in time we call life: is actually a place to glean wisdom & understanding. It is a place where experience is an awesome teacher.
Parents & adults, we are required to teach our children & our young people. But teach them what?
· We must teach them that nothing in life happens by chance.
· Everything that happens to us, everyone that crosses our path, every choice we make has a divine outcome.
· We may think that we are in control; we may think that no one else sees us: But GOD, the Elohim, the Great I AM, knows the decision you will lean to before you even think it!
· God knows the desires that creep & dance around in you hearts & minds.
· GOD sees when we, young old & in between, when we dance to close to the fires of sin & get overcome by things that we should have walked on by.
· GOD has laid the very foundation of your faith & has poured within each of us a enough to get us through from day to day.
These are the things we should be teaching our young people as they prepare to start their own journey.
For instance: If you knew that a portion of your frequently traveled street was full of huge potholes you would most likely do one of two things, you would take a different route, or if you absolutely had to go that way, you would learn where the potholes are & drive accordingly. Why? Because…. experience is a master teacher!
Experience is a master teacher. Some take her class & walk away empty & lost. So we, adults & parents, have a huge responsibility; we are required to give our young people a head start in life. How? By teaching them from our experiences. But before you can teach, you must answer this: What have you learned?
Have you walked through life wearing those famed rose-colored glasses, just having a casual relationship with GOD? Or have you lain on your face, with tears streaming down, sacrificing yourself to HIM, in an effort to know HIM intimately?
How can we teach our young people, when we ourselves are just skating by? How can we teach them when we ourselves are still trying to “Live” like we are teenagers, trying to restore something that you know good & well is dead & dried up! What have you learned?
In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon, the Preacher, purposed to find out the meaning of life. In all of his searching Solomon realized that everything was vain; empty, without meaning. The only thing that had any meaning, any purpose, was our servitude to GOD.
Solomon closed his study on life with this: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear GOD, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Solomon learned that there is nothing (there was nothing then & there is nothing now) that can fill your soul’s longing, that can satisfy your thirst & hunger in life; except to be in a right relationship with GOD.
A right relationship means that you have your priorities right in life & with HIM: He is GOD & you are worshiper; HE is Creator, you are created; HE is Father, and you are child; walking by HIS wisdom & living by HIS grace.
Young people, youth is the time of the your greatest vigor, when the sense of enjoyment is at it’s sharpest. Cares & worries have not yet begun to corrode the your mind, or your faith in mankind; nor has hope lost its wonderful charm. But as you young men & women rejoice in your youth, please know this: A life devoted to entirely to earthly pleasure, has no solid worth!
The bible tells us: He who lives to satisfy earthly desires, living unmindful of the duty given mankind by GOD, will find at the close of his life, that he has been grasping at shadows; like those of a dream.
Young people I am compelled to share this with you: Life is a cruel taskmaster! Unless a man has the hope of immortality in Christ Jesus: you may as well be doing the backstroke up Niagara Falls. Because life will wear you out! What have you learned?
Christian wisdom commands the rational & sober use of pleasure. Because when fleshly pleasures are pursued for it’s own sake, it leads to forgetfulness of GOD, & it weakens the power of spiritual control.
Even those who are most careful have need to constantly keep before them certain truths. The main of which is that man (young, old or in between) should always be mindful of that solemn judgment awaiting each of us. We are to be ever aware of this reckoning which GOD will make with all mankind
For you see, mankind will not be judged in masses, but each one by himself. With this in mind, knowing that you will stand before an Awesome, All powerful, all knowing GOD: my brothers, my sisters…what have you learned? Knowing that GOD will bring you into judgment for all we have done in this body… what have you learned?
The moral worth or worthlessness of each human life will be estimated & weighed. The true character of each man will be revealed. That Judgment will make manifest just what we really are…. what have you learned?
Youth, you are to be reminded that for the joy that is so natural to your season of life, GOD will bring you too into judgment…. So what have you learned?
He, who in life’s work or pleasures acknowledges GOD & is governed by HIS Holy Spirit, has nothing to fear. But he who in his pleasures and works has forgotten GOD and has lived without a sense of responsibility, has all to fear from the Holy One, who is determined to put all sin out of HIS sight. For nothing that is evil can live in the light of HIS countenance.
No stage of life is permanent; all is fleeting. All that we know & all that we see, are hastening to that long dark night when no man can work. All: young & old, await the judgment.
Don’t take life so lightly. Don’t think that tomorrow you will change your thinking or your way of living. Because tomorrow may not come for you; it may not come for me. That’s why it is so important for you to put your life on the balance now.
What are you coming up short in? What are you lacking? What have you learned?
Parents, family members & mentors take your position in your young person’s life to heart. As of this day no one who looks up to you, who turns to you for advise or guidance should walk out of here in desperation. Because life has been you teacher too. What have you learned?
We need to stop being afraid of being real with young people. Don’t you know the truth will find you out? He knows were you live, he’s got your private number & he is waiting to bring you out.
This Youth Sunday somebody, anybody, everybody ought to purpose in their hearts that they are not going to try to hide any more. My past is my past; it has no power over me any more! It does not own me because I have been bought with a price, I have been purchased by the blood of the LAMB! I can be for real about my mistakes & my faults.
I have learned that all I went through: the heartaches, the abuse, and the deep-seated disappointments; GOD was yet with me, waiting for me to step up & reach out. To seek HIM in the pardoning of my sins; to wash me white as snow; to accept me as HIS own. What have you learned?
When I sit down, & the call to Discipleship is given, this aisle should be flooded! Because everyone in here right now ought to be asking within him or herself, “LORD, what have I learned? Am I living a life that’s pleasing in your sight? Am I acknowledging your saving grace & healing power in my life? GOD, am I walking in a right relationship with YOU?”
Because when it is all said & done, life as we know it will cease to be. When you are ready to lay down your sword & shield; when you look back over your life and you think things over; when you see all of your trials, your tribulations: you too will ask yourself: “What have I learned?” Make sure you can give an answer, an answer that will be pleasing to our LORD. One that will make HIM say, “Well done thou good & faithful servant; well done!”
Amen? GOD bless you!
