By Rev. Larry Thompson,
Pastor Martinsburg Church in Bruin
During a recent vacation in Florida, my wife and I had the opportunity to see the newly released film, “Jesus Revolution.” The film is based on a book of the same title by Greg Laurie, Senior Pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California and covers his experience and Christian conversion amid the American spiritual awakening in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. While the awakening affected literally thousands of people, in America and around the world, the response of those between 15 and 22 years of age, was overwhelming. Young people were searching for truth and meaning and they found both in Jesus Christ.
The word of God tells us this: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (arrogance, pride in self, etc.), is not of the Father, but is of the world (1 John 2:15-16).”
God has often moved in the lives of young people to accomplish His will and purpose. While the Philistine giant, Goliath, was taunting the armies of Israel on a daily basis, God raised up David, a shepherd boy and future king of Israel, to confront and ultimately slay Goliath. It is estimated that David was between 16 and 19 years of age at the time. In 1 John 2:14, the Apostle John writes: “…I have written unto you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.”
On February 8 of this year, a revival of God’s Holy Spirit broke out in a chapel service at Asbury University in Wilmor, Kentucky and continued for several weeks. In 1970, a similar revival broke out at Asbury. The “fire” of that revival spread to some 130 Christian and secular campuses as a result of the outreach of Christian campus groups.
Like their predecessors of over 50 years ago, our young people today are also seeking for “truth and meaning,” but in all the wrong places (drugs, alcohol, sex, the LGBTQ agenda, etc.). We must pray for and reach out to our young people, as never before. The evil one is after them and we cannot surrender them to an eternity of spiritual darkness and death.
Young people, Jesus loves you and will give you peace and rest above all understanding: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me: for I am meek and lowly of heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light". (Mat.11:28-30)
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