My Message To Young People -By Bulus Chongsu John

There was an old man I used to know who consumed cigarettes and alcohol. Whenever someone asked why he indulged in these harmful substances at his age, he would always say, “I’ve been taking these things since I was young. I’ve tried to stop, but it seems I can’t.” He responded with regret in his voice.

He’d continue, “It won’t harm me. These substances are already used to my system. If they were going to harm me, they would have done it when I was young.” He would stubbornly defend his actions.

The old man I was talking about had aged to the point where he could barely see or walk properly. Yet, he was still unable to give up alcohol and cigarettes.

It’s truly heartbreaking how this man wasted his youthful years and now has nothing to show for it. Youth is a gift, and it’s crucial for young people to make wise decisions about how they spend their time and energy.
Dear Youth,

You are young, full of life and energy. Remember, this stage of life is fleeting, and the decisions you make now will shape your future. Every choice you make in your youth has a lasting impact, for better or worse.

Have you ever pondered the reason behind Ecclesiastes 12:1, which states: “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them’”?

This emphasis on the youth is because this is the critical time when you decide whether to follow God or succumb to the devil’s temptations. Your decisions during this stage of life can lead you down a path of righteousness or to a life of darkness.

Haven’t you heard that the devil roams like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour? And it’s not the old he’s after; it’s the young. He knows you hold a wealth of potential and visions within you. He aims to distort and destroy those visions, rendering you wasted and empty. He wants you to regret the paths you didn’t take.

Many elderly men and women are facing the consequences of decisions they made in their youth, just like the old man I told you about earlier. Your mistake might not be smoking or drinking alcohol; it could be sexual impurity, lying, deceit, murder, covetousness, theft, or any number of other vices. It’s imperative that you correct your ways while you’re still young, before they come back to haunt you in your old age.

You cannot turn back time; you cannot erase or change the past.

Bulus Chongsu John writes and can be reached via johnbuluschongsu@gmail.co