I delivered this message to a youth audience at my former school around 2000–2001.
Introduction
Most of you probably know me, but for those of you who don’t, I am Philip Gons, Valerie and Stephen’s brother. I graduated from here back in ‘96. Now I am working on an undergraduate degree at Bob Jones University with a Minor in Greek. I just finished up my junior year and, after graduating, I plan to stay for grad school. After that I’m considering youth work or teaching.
When Pastor Dickson called me up two weeks ago and asked me to speak, I began to think about my years in high school – the mistakes that I made, and the things that I have learned since. As I look back on my high school days, I begin to think of many things that I wish I had done. I wish that I had worked harder in sports. I wish that I had continued playing piano or trumpet. I wish that I had not dated. I wish that I had taken more seriously my classes, especially after going to college where homework isn’t optional. But above all, I wish that I had taken much more seriously my walk with God.
If there is one thing that I have learned since high school, it is this: there is nothing more important in life that your walk with God. There is nothing more important in life than your walk with God. I cannot emphasize that enough. And if there is one thing that I would like to impress upon each of you today, it is that.
I’ve been where you are. I’ve gone through the same struggles, the same temptations. I struggled with consistency in my spiritual life. But my prayer for you today is that you will learn something form my experience that will create in you a greater passion and love for God.
Our text for today is Luke 2:40–52. But before we look there let me share with you a couple of stories.
Bob Jones Sr., the founder of Bob Jones University, grew up in a poor family in Alabama. As a young boy at play, he would preach to the other boys and girls in the neighborhood. He was converted at age 11. After his conversion he began to preach to anyone who would listen to him. People began to invite the now 12 year old boy into their homes to preach, and he would draw a crowd of as many as 20 to 30 people. He began to hold revival meetings and by age 13 he had a church of 54 members to whom he regularly preached. At age 14 he was ordained as a Methodist preacher. Many people came to Christ under the preaching of this young boy. At age 16 he was ministering to five churches as a “circuit rider.”
Charles Spurgeon, the man known as the Prince of Preachers, was one of the greatest preachers of the 19th Century. At age 17, Spurgeon was called to Pastor a Baptist church in England. The boy had no formal education, but he taught himself by reading thousands of books during his lifetime. God used this boy to bring tens of thousands of souls to Christ.
Bruce Olson, a modern day missionary, whose name is probably not familiar to you, left his home and headed to South Africa to the unreached tribes in Venezuela. His family had disowned him, his church had mocked him, and he had no mission board or financial support, but God used this 19 year old young man to reach hundreds of the tribal people who had never heard the gospel.
Jonathan Edwards, probably the single greatest theologian that America has ever produced, is most likely known to you as the man who preached the famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God.” He was used by God to start the Great Awakening. Something that many of you are probably not quite as familiar with is his 70 Resolutions. Edwards wrote these between the ages of 19 and 21. Let me read just a couple of these resolutions.
28. Resolved, to study the scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.
5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
Time will not permit me to read any more, but I strongly recommend that you get a copy of these and read through them. I have a copy and would be more than happy in running you off one.
Why do I share this all with you? I wanted you to see example of people your age who were serious about their God, and whom God used greatly. This can be you by the grace of God.
These men are all excellent examples to follow, but the goal of a Christian is Christ-likeness (I Peter 2:21; Romans 8:29). Here we will look at the life of Christ as a young boy and learn what is means to be Christ-like.
Lets Read Our Text.
Here we have the first recorded words of Jesus. Not much is told about His younger years. But this passage is very helpful and insightful in the development of the life of our Lord.
Most of you would probably say, “I want to be Christ-like.” Today I would for us to look at what that really means. There is more to being Christ-like than what we talk about today, but we will notice three things from this passage about Christ-likeness. A Christ-like person has a proper view of his age, a passionate love for the Word, and a purposeful zeal for his mission.
I. A Christ-like person has a proper view of his age. (42)
Read Verse
Take special note of the age of Jesus at the time of this event. He is only 12 years old. We would expect to find the boy playing with other children. But here we find this 12 year old boy, not playing with the other kids, but sitting in the temple with the religious men of His day and discussing the Scriptures.
If this story was written about you, where would you be found?
You are never too young to get serious about the things of God. Bob Jones realized this. Charles Spurgeon realized this. Bruce Olson realized this. Jonathan Edwards realized this. And Jesus realized this. Will you?
Joseph, David, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were all young people your age who were consumed with serving their God.
Paul exhorted Timothy similarly in I Timothy 4:12. Literally, let no man look down on your youthfulness.
While you are young determine that you are going to go God’s way and get serious about it.
II. A Christ-like person has a passionate love for the Word. (46–47)
Read Verses
You can tell a lot about a persons spirituality by his attitude toward God’s Word.
Look with me at David’s attitude toward the Word of God. Verses
What is your attitude toward the Scriptures?
1. He is attracted to the Word.
Jesus could have gone to many places, but this young boy chose to go to the temple and listen to the discussion of the word of God because of his love for the Word.
When you have opportunity are you looking for a chance to discuss the Bible?
What are you going to talk about after chapel or at lunch? Will is be the Bible?
2. He is knowledgeable about the Word.
The response of the men to Christ shows his great level of knowledge of the Scripture. Even though he was the God-man, He still did learn things (Heb. 5:8). His incredible knowledge of the Bible amazed the scholars.
No doubt this knowledge came from many hours of reading and studying.
Do you desire this?
15 minutes a day will not cut it.
What kind of effort goes into being good a basketball or soccer? Hours a day.
What kind of effort goes into being a skilled musician? Hours a day.
Yet we think that 15 minutes a day will make a Christ-like.
It does not come naturally, but with much diligent labor and study.
Edwards said in is 28th resolution: Resolved, to study the scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same, and in the 22nd: Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.
Many of you can find hours a day to spend playing video games, or watching TV, or playing a sport. THAT IS IDOLATRY, plain and simple.
III. A Christ-like person has a purposeful zeal for his mission. (49)
Read Verse
Notice carefully the response of Jesus in this verse. I must be about my Father’s business. Literally, I must be about the things of my Father. He was duty bound. Jesus was driven with a purpose and mission in life. He knew why he was on the earth. He had a definite mission and purpose and was set on doing it.
Today it seems like people either have no understanding of their purpose and mission in life, or they have a distorted view of why they are hear.
Why are you hear? What is your purpose and mission in life?
Jesus knew his purpose. John 12:28, Jesus prayed, “Father, glorify thy name.”
Jesus mission was to preach the gospel and to die on the cross ultimately to glorify the Father.
Verses
Why are you here on earth?
What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy him forever.
Verses
We do not exist for ourselves, we exist for God. Say that with we.
Our purpose or mission in life can be summed up as:
Glorifying God
Knowing God Making Him Known
Love God Love Neighbor
Come to the conclusion right now that you are here for God are not you.
Conclusion:
Determine today that you are going get concerned about the things God is concerned about, namely His glory, that you are going to get serious about knowing God and making him known, that like Edwards, you are going to study the scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same. And that you are going to give all your power, might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, you are capable of, or can bring myself to exert into knowing your God.
Follow the example of Christ who was not concerned about His, had a love for the Word, and was consumed with a purpose and mission in life.
Pray.