Archived Devotion
Monday // August 6 // 2007
Before I became a Christian, I was like most young people, looking for purpose and meaning in life. The thinking of the day was that we, the young people, were going to change our world. The adult establishment did not have the answers. Our faith in government was shattered. So we thought we would change things.
But after a little time, I began to realize that the youth movement had the same phony love and hypocrisy I had seen in the adult world. It was the same selfishness and emptiness of the generation that preceded it and the generations that would follow. It was only a pale version of what can really be known in a relationship with God and as you walk with His people.
On my high school campus, there was a very outspoken group of Christians who were not ashamed of the gospel. I went to one of their meetings and ended up hearing the gospel and giving my life to Christ. My life was radically impacted. God's promises started being fulfilled in my own life, and then I knew personally that Jesus Christ was real.
Having lived in the world for 17 years and having sampled many of the pleasures it had to offer, I knew the futility and emptiness of it all. I knew it was a dead-end street. I knew then that this world was empty. And it still is. As Solomon said, "Vanity of vanities . . . all is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
So what is the answer? "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all" (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Without God, life is vain and empty.
But after a little time, I began to realize that the youth movement had the same phony love and hypocrisy I had seen in the adult world. It was the same selfishness and emptiness of the generation that preceded it and the generations that would follow. It was only a pale version of what can really be known in a relationship with God and as you walk with His people.
On my high school campus, there was a very outspoken group of Christians who were not ashamed of the gospel. I went to one of their meetings and ended up hearing the gospel and giving my life to Christ. My life was radically impacted. God's promises started being fulfilled in my own life, and then I knew personally that Jesus Christ was real.
Having lived in the world for 17 years and having sampled many of the pleasures it had to offer, I knew the futility and emptiness of it all. I knew it was a dead-end street. I knew then that this world was empty. And it still is. As Solomon said, "Vanity of vanities . . . all is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
So what is the answer? "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all" (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Without God, life is vain and empty.
Copyright © 2007 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000
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Some people believe that as Christians, we are exempt from human suffering. They think that bad things happen to unbelievers, but not to Christians. But . . .
Far too often we are isolating ourselves from our culture rather than infiltrating it. We would prefer to remain in our Christian subculture when, in . . .
Forever the Same // Thursday // November 5
The Bible describes a time in Israel's history when "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6). But I also think that . . .
Finding Purpose in Pain // Wednesday // November 4
When the Israelites were poised to enter the Promised Land, God warned them about forgetting Him in their prosperity. Prior to this point, Israel had . . .
No Free Passes // Tuesday // November 3
Some people believe that as Christians, we are exempt from human suffering. They think that bad things happen to unbelievers, but not to Christians. But . . .