Dangers to Youths Today!
Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo
“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim 2:22).
Young people in the church are very important people—VIPs! And it is because of this reason that Satan spares no effort to destroy the youths of our day. It is at a young age that our youths face the greatest temptations in life. If they make the right decision in life, their future will be safe and secure. Make the wrong one, and they may live to regret it for the rest of their life.
The Lord repeatedly warns young people against the wiles of the devil and the temptations of sin and of the world. We find one such passage in 2 Timothy 2:22 where Paul commanded, “Flee youthful lusts.” “Youthful lusts” here are the sinful desires of youth. The word “lust” or “desire” is a very strong word for passion or feeling. It refers to a strong yearning for something. It is not simply desire, but strong desire. It is often used in Scripture in the bad sense of sinful desire. The word “lust” in the KJV gives this idea. What are these sinful youthful desires?
Sinful desires that tempt our youths today can be classified under these three categories, all beginning with P.
Pleasure
This is unholy sexual desire or fornication. Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:18c commanded the believers to “flee fornication.” The word in Greek is porneia where we get the word “pornography.” When Paul told young Timothy to flee youthful lusts, one of lusts he had in mind was the lust for inordinate sexual pleasure. This is a real problem with young people especially when they reach puberty. They suddenly find themselves attracted to the opposite sex. This is natural. God made us this way. But because of sin, this desire can go awry, lead us astray, and cause us to do things that are against God’s will and Word.
The youths today are bombarded by all kinds of temptations that come from Satan, from the world, and from within themselves. The sexual temptation is particularly strong. They want to experiment. Experiment with chemicals in the science lab all you want but do not experiment with sex! It is an experiment that is bound to explode in your face and ruin not only your own life but also the life of others.
Teenage pregnancy and abortion is on the rise. Teenagers are engaging in premarital sex. It is a criminal offence for anyone to have sex with a minor, and to abort a baby is murder in God’s eyes. Beware the internet chat rooms, chat lines etc. Beware of sexual predators. “Never talk to strangers.” Girls, pay attention to this: One of the most precious gifts that you have, that God has given you, is your chastity and virginity. The best gift you can ever give to your husband when you get married is the gift of chastity and virginity. In 1 Corinthians 11:2, Paul spoke about the church, “I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” Never allow yourself to be used by your boyfriend, or succumb to his sweet whispers. If he says, “If you love me, you will have sex with me,” give him a tight slap, and leave him!
The problem with many boys and girls today is promiscuity; they are too free with their morals. They frequent places that pose a danger to their purity—discos, pubs, beach parties etc. Another danger is the company you keep. What kind of friends do you have? Listen to God, “Bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Cor 15:33). Boys, make sure you keep your distance. If you truly love your girlfriend you would not even want sex until after marriage. The problem today is that many are wimps who do not have the guts to say NO! Say NO to sex, drugs, discos, pubs, bad company, rock music, filthy language, dirty jokes, pornography etc. Date only Christians. Go out in groups. Go to bright places and not dark spaces. Flee youthful lusts, flee fornication!
Power
The lust to shine or be showy is also a danger. It is the sin of pride. This results in boastings, envy, strife, selfish ambition. One of the dangers posed to youths today is this whole idea of self-esteem which tells you that you need to think of yourself highly, good, capable, strong, handsome/pretty, intelligent, talented, popular etc. This is self-deception! It generates a better-than-thou attitude. It leads to pride. This is Satanic (Isa 14:12-14). The Bible says the opposite: We are no good, we are absolutely sinful. Romans 3:9-18 says, “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
In Philippians 2:3, Paul enjoined the saints to cultivate other-esteem, not self-esteem. Jesus for instance did not think selfishly but selflessly and sacrificially when He came into this world to save us from our sins. The Apostle Paul lived a victorious Christian life. But was it a result of his self-esteem? No it was not self-esteem but Christ-esteem. The Apostle Paul rightly esteemed himself by esteeming Christ, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave imself for me” (Gal 2:20). In short, “Not I but Christ.” The Bible does not teach self-esteem but other-esteem, and Christ-esteem.
Possessions
Materialism is not only the sin of working adults, but also of youths and students. Schoolboys and schoolgirls today can spend hundreds of dollars on a T-shirt, or a pair of pants, handbags, etc. These branded clothes are usually not very modest. There is so little cloth, and yet so very costly. The economics of fashion today seems to be: More cash, less cloth; less cash, more cloth. The lust for expensive clothes is due in part to peer pressure. My friends have it, so must I. Dare to be different! Romans 12:1-2 tells you to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Do not follow the trends and fashion of the world. Do not idolise the pop-singers or actors.
“Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim 6:6). “The love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Tim 6:10). Some teenagers work during the holidays to get the money to buy all kinds of expensive stuff. Such ought to be praised for their industry and resourcefulness, but what a colossal waste of hard-earned money to splurge on vain things! Wise stewardship of money is important. Christian youths ought to use their money for God’s kingdom and build up their treasures in heaven. Use it for missions for example. Save up to go on mission trips or for church camps. Use the money to buy good Christian books to read. There are many ways to use our money so as to gain eternal rewards.
Conclusion
“Flee, and keep on fleeing youthful lusts.” It is a command, not a choice. How to flee youthful lusts? Psalm 119:9-11 tells us how: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” The Word of God is important—know it and keep it well!
Adults’ Fellowship Report
William Teo
It is a joy to give thanks and praise to our Almighty God who has seen us through these last four years. It is our prayer that the Lord will continue to lead and guide us as we seek to grow in faith and in the knowledge of Him! We thank God for Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo who completed teaching us Church History in 2008. We also covered other topics such as “Christian & Recreation” by Rev Dr Das Koshy and “Faithfulness in Service” by Judah Kundael Pallangyo
Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo is teaching the book of Acts this year. As usual, we meet at my home monthly, on the second Saturday, 3.30pm, to study God’s Word. We pray that more brethren will be able to join us to study God’s Word.
In a typical meeting, we would have the message first, followed by a time of sharing and prayer. After that we stay for some refreshments & fellowship.
Besides the monthly meetings, some of the AF brethren participate in: (1) Monthly door-to-door evangelism led by Dn Charles Kan, and (2) Church camps, so that we might have fellowship with other church brethren. Thank God that a good number of us were able to join the church camp last year.
In our Christmas Caroling on December 25, 2008, the AF, brethren from YPF and the Gethsemane Care Ministry visited four homes: Sister Janelle’s mum and Brother Jason Lim’s home where Preacher Daniel Lim shared the gospel and Christmas message. We thank God for Janelle’s mother who has accepted Christ on that day and has started attending True Life with Janelle every Sunday. May the Lord help her to know more about Christ and to seek baptism in time to come. We also visited St John’s Home for Senior Citizens where we spent a few hours there with the residents. We ended our caroling with fellowship at Sister Maureen Mahadevan’s home where Preacher Daniel Lim again exhorted us from God’s Word.
From the offerings collected at our meetings, we channelled various love gifts to the 4th Anniversary of the Young People’s Fellowship, Brother Sim Swee Ho who has undergone cancer treatment, and Brother Judah Kundael Pallangyo, an FEBC graduate.
We pray for the Lord to open up avenues of service for us to serve Him in 2009 as we seek to occupy till He comes!
