Is The Young Man Safe?
John Isaac Edwards

This question was first asked by David when he expressed concern for the well-being of his son Absalom (2 Sam. 18:74-33). Fathers and mothers today need to be concerned about the safety and welfare of their boys and girls. Absalom was dead when David asked this question. Some parents wait too late to show their interest and concern. Young people need to be concerned about self as they have responsibility to God. The safety and welfare of the young man is dependent upon several things. The young man is safe when he: ...

Absalom had a rebellious heart. He attempted to take the kingdom from his own father. The young man must make his heart right and secure with God. Daniel was a faithful servant of God because he “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” (Dan 1:8). Daniel planned ahead and put it in his mind that he would not do anything that would dishonor him before God. Many do evil because they have no purpose of heart (2 Chron 12:14). David urged Solomon, “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God” ( 1 Chr. 22:19). How is your heart?

Remembers His Creator

The wise man exhorted all future generations of young people, “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” (Ecc 12: 1). We have a Creator! We are made in the image of Almighty God (Gen 1:26-27). Remembering your Creator involves more than just knowing there is a God. It involves fearing God and keeping his commandments (Ecc 12:13-14), trusting in God (Prov 18:10) and being faithful in worshiping God (John. 4:24). Do not wait until the dark days of old age creep upon you to remember your Creator. Remember God while you are young. The young man is not safe when he leaves God out of his life!

The Psalmist wrote, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Ps 119:9). The young man must take heed to God's word. The word of God helps in time of temptation (Mt 4:1-11). It keeps us from sinning so much (Ps 119:11). It furnishes light to illuminate our pathway (Ps 119:105). The young man is safe when he spends time on a day-to-day basis reading and studying the word of God. Paul said, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). Have you taken heed to God's word?

Absalom's downfall was brought about by his wayward attitude toward his father. He waged war against his very own father. Paul instructs, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this right. Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (Eph 6: 1-3). Under the Law of Moses the young man that did not honor and obey his parents was put to death (Ex 21:15, 17), Let us follow the example of Jesus and be subject to our parents that we might be safe (Luke 2:51).

Bears The Yoke

Jeremiah revealed, “It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth,” (Lam 3:27). The Bible teaches us to work with our hands (Eph. 4:28; 2 Th. 3:10). Industry is a safeguard to the young man. The busy youth can say to the tempter, “I am doing a great work, I cannot come down” (Neh 6:3). Idleness and slothfulness lead to hunger (Prov 19:15) to rags (Prov 23:21), and to gossip and tale bearing (l Tim 5: l-3). Parents do their children an injustice by not teaching them to work! “He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame” (Prov 1:5).

Whether we realize it or not, those we associate with influence us in either a good or bad way. Solomon recorded, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Prov 13:20). If we think that we can run around with unrighteous and ungodly people and not be influenced by their ways, we are only deceiving ourselves. “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Cor 15:33). We must not desire to be in the company of evil men (Prov 24:1). Many a young man has been led to ruin by failing to choose good friends, Choose to associate with those who will help you make it to heaven and you will be safe.

There are lusts that are peculiar to the young man, Paul told the young man Timothy, “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim 2:22). A young man named Joseph was tempted to lie with his master's wife(Gen 39:7-12). The Bible says that Joseph “refused” “left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out” (Gen. 39:8 12) James taught, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (Jas 1:14-15). The young man is safe when he runs away from youthful lusts.

The young man Timothy was admonished, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim 4:12) The young man must not allow others to look down upon him because he is young. To prevent this, you should live in such a way that will cause others to respect you. The young man must be an example of what a believer is. When the young man lets no man despise his youth and is a living example of the believers, he is safe.

The wise man penned, “Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth,” (Pr. 5:18). Who you choose to marry is one of the greatest choices you will ever make in life. Marriage is not something you do today and undo the next. Marriage is a life-long relationship between a man and a woman (Mt. 19:5-6). Who you marry will have an impact upon where you spend eternity. Marry someone who has the right to marry! Marry someone who has the same beliefs and goals that you have. Marry someone who will help you make it to heaven. Here is something to keep in mind: you will marry someone that you date. So date someone who you would consider marrying. The young man is safe when he marries “in the Lord” (1 Cor 7:39).

Death is certain! Solomon announced, “For the living know that they shall die” Ecc 9:5). Paul taught that “as in Adam all die” (l Cor 15:22). The Hebrew writer revealed, “. . . it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb 9:27). Death is an appointment that all must keep and the time of which is unknown to man. The Psalmist stated, “I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up” (Ps 88:15) Young man, are you ready to die? If you are not ready to die, then you are not safe.

The safety of the young man depends upon several things. It is written, “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 shine heart, and in the sight of shine 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” (Ecc. 11:9-10).

We have been treated to many dramatizations on television of the time when mankind first discovered fire, but we wonder also about the serendipity when he first discovered fire water.

What was the occasion and what was the reaction when man finished off his first cup of fermented grape juice? Did he immediately start brewing a second batch or did he hop on the wagon, leaving the wrath of grapes to some other poor unfortunate.

Who knows if Noah was the first, but he was the first to have his binge recorded for posterity. The mighty man of ark fame became a farmer once the water receded, planted a vineyard, and made wine. Enough did he drink that Noah became intoxicated and shamed by his own son.

In a dramatic reversal of the more common practice, some young women got Lot drunk and took advantage of him. Turned out it was his daughters who fretted over his lack of a male heir and so conspired to make him drink wine so that both could take turns laying with him. Each girl became impregnated; the Moabites and Ammonites were the result.

Events like these led inspired writers to describe the wrath of grapes in dramatic terms. Solomon's seven verse proverb in chapter 23 is an ancient public service announcement on the perils of drink.

Today, society considers alcohol to be a temporary solution to sorrow, marital strife, disappointment and fear. Ancient wisdom, however, rightly noted that all these things are as likely to be caused by drink as temporarily relieved by it.

Experience suggests and scripture confirms that salving a troubled life with drink is like rubbing salt in an open wound. Neither a bender nor a beer run will alleviate a single woe; more likely, they will cause a few, for alcohol is a depressant that lowers both inhibitions and reactions. These so-called spirits shrivel a man's soul while making him feel ten feet tall. He is less inhibited against fornication, adultery, even rape. He is unable to discern an inability to walk or drive safely. Temptations to resort to verbal and physical violence are made almost impossible to resist in the intoxicated state.

The effect on young ladies is just as scandalous. The weaker vessel in a drunken state becomes a rag doll in a wicked man's hands. She is unable, morally or physically, to resist him.

Some will argue that social drinking is no danger, so long as one knows when to say when. If, then, drunkenness is sinful, but drinking is not, pray tell where is the line that clearly distinguishes the two states? Is it the same for everyone and does it increase as the body requires a little more each time to approach a buzz?

Surely, the New Testament teaches us to crave sobriety instead (Rom. 13:12-13). The apostle Peter begs Christians to swear off the will of the Gentiles, which includes drunkenness, half-drunkenness and social drinking. First Peter 4:3 condemns all these:

drunkenness (a state of total inebriation)

revelries (the riotousness of half-drunken fellows, aware enough to do harm and not drunk enough to pass out)

banqueting or drinking parties (an assembling together for the purpose of drinking socially)

Proverbs 23:31 gave much the same counsel, however: "Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper.”

If it is foolish even to gaze on the temptation, why would one think it permissible to imbibe a little? Wine and beer are enticing before they ever reach a person's hands. They are portrayed in advertisements as the essence of sophistication or real fun. Those who drink them appear to be physically fit, financially set and magnetic to those of the opposite sex.

The commercials don't tell the truth, however. None depicts the drunk driving accidents that claim thousands of lives every year after a little or a lot of alcohol has been imbibed by suddenly less cool people. None shows the role alcohol plays in date rape, domestic abuse and disease. All could be avoided if we learn not to play with poisonous snakes.

Lastly, there is alcoholism to fear. When it comes to drink, there are two types of people who do - those who actually can drink without becoming addicted to it and those who turn into hopeless drunks who would trade their lives and souls for another sip (Prov 23:33-35). Until you take that first drink, you have no way of knowing which category will claim you.

For a young person with big dreams in life, that is too great a risk to take. Say when, before the cap is unscrewed or the cork is popped. 

--J.S. Smith, Woodmont Beacon, Feb. 18, 2001

SHE KNEW TOO MUCH BIBLE

A little girl was invited by a priest to attend religious instruction. She refused, saying it would be against her father’s wishes. The priest said that since he was a religious instructor, she should obey him, not her father.

"Oh, Sir," she replied, "We are taught in the Bible ‘Honor your father and your mother."

"But I am your spiritual Father," said to priest -- to which she replied,

"No. The Bible says, ‘Call no man your father upon the earth for one is your Father, which is in heaven.’"

The priest was not anxious to lose a religious discussion to one so young. He said, "You have no business reading the Bible."

"But," she replied, "Then why did the Spirit say, ‘Search the Scriptures’?"

He answered, "But that command is only to the clergy. Surely you know that a little child cannot understand the Scriptures."

"Then why," she asked, "did Paul say to Timothy: ‘From a child you have known the holy Scriptures’?"

Surely there was some way to get the best of this young upstart. Said the priest, "Timothy was being trained to be a bishop and he was taught by the church authorities."

"No, sir," said the little girl. "He had been taught by his mother and his grandmother. At least, that’s what Paul said."

The priest turned away and someone said they heard him mutter, "She knows enough Bible to poison a whole parish."

--author unknown (Adapted from The Key Word, Memphis, Tenn)

"SCIENTIFIC" DATING METHODS
by Greg Gwin

The Bible clearly teaches that we live on a relatively "young" earth. Based upon what is taught in the Bible, the earth can not possibly be more than 6,000 to 8,000 years old. It is absolutely impossible to harmonize what the Bible teaches concerning the age of the earth with the claims of some evolutionists. They would have us to believe that the earth is billions of years old. In defense of the "old earth" model, some would offer the "proof' of various "scientific" dating methods. Some of the better known dating methods are Uranium/Lead; Potassium/Argon; and Carbon 14. Each of these methods attempts to establish the age of things by measuring the levels of radioactive isotopes present in the substance and comparing this to assumed original levels. These tests often yield apparent ages in the range of millions of years. Can these "clocks" be trusted? In order to have a reliable "clock" some things are necessary, such as: The clock must be set correctly at the beginning of the test period. The clock must not be disturbed or reset during the test period. The clock must run at a known, constant rate.

As an example, compare these necessary things to the Uranium/Lead "clock." Uranium (U-238) is constantly converted to Lead (Pb-206). By measuring the relative amounts of Uranium and Lead in a sample, scientists claim the ability to "date" a given sample. But: We do not know the setting of the "clock" at the beginning of the test. It is assumed that there was no lead in the sample initially. This simply cannot be proved. It is assumed that no external sources contaminated the sample during the test period. In reality there may have been many natural factors that either added to or took from the levels of Uranium and Lead in the test sample - thus resetting the "clock." It is further assumed that the decay rate of Uranium into Lead has always been the same. This may be true, but it cannot be proved. Knowledgeable scientists admit that possibility that such rates may have varied over time making it impossible to know that the "clock" rate was always constant. The various methods of radioactive dating simply cannot be trusted to be reliable over the time periods they presume to test. 

The Spirit Expressly Says ...
1 Tim 4:1-6

Who Are These People

People often ask, "What is the Church of Christ?" Some have wondered if we are a cult, although the cult characteristics are not present: not the brainwashing; not the one man head; not the headquarters at some earthly spot. Neither are we connected with the Christian Scientists, the United Church of Christ nor the Mormons. We are not a part of what is commonly called, "the Pentecostal movement." We have not written a creed for a church to go by. There are no organic ties with other Churches of Christ. No denominational ties whatsoever.

On the other hand, this is simply a congregation of Christians who are nothing but Christians. Our likeness and fellowship you see between us and others who call themselves churches of Christ is due to the desire all of us have to get back to original Christianity as described in the Bible and as existed in the first century.

Because Jesus Christ "Is the head of the body the church" (Colossians 1:18). Come and serve God with us. Worship is at 9:30 AM with Bible Classes at 11:00 AM.